Book Description
Second Corinthians offers us an account of Paul’s ongoing relationship with a church that was especially troubled. Before writing any of 2 Corinthians, Paul had already written three letters to this church to try to deal with questions and problems as they struggled to understand and live out the life of faith. When Paul writes the material in 2 Corinthians, he has to defend his claim to be an apostle in light of questions raised by some Corinthians and by rival teachers who have come to the city.
To try to win this church back, Paul will use every persuasive technique he can muster. He will cajole, plead, and scold; he will use irony and sarcasm; he will show compassion. He is willing to do whatever it takes to convince them that he is the authentic apostle because he sees the issues that are being debated as so central that, if the Corinthians do not return to recognizing him as their apostle, they may lose their relationship with God.
Book Reviews
For more than three decades, Jerry Sumney has been recognized as a savvy interpreter of 2 Corinthians, and especially of St. Paul’s vigorous confrontation with his opponents in that complex document. With this perceptive new commentary, Sumney has placed all students of St. Paul even more firmly in his debt.
—John T. Fitzgerald
Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity
University of Notre Dame
Jerry Sumney’s career of living with 2 Corinthians is evident in this excellent book. He incorporates a wide knowledge of ancient philosophy and rhetoric with attention to the flow of the argument of 2 Corinthians in a style that is accessible to a wide audience. He consistently exercises sound exegetical judgment as he examines the text and engages the opinions of other scholars. The book will be a useful resource for scholars, university students, and other study groups.
—James W. Thompson
Abilene Christian University
Jerry Sumney’s Reading 2nd Corinthians is a welcome addition to the vast literature on Paul’s Corinthian Correspondence. Offering careful, judicious commentary on the complex compositional issues in 2 Corinthians, Professor Sumney shows the rhetorical nuances of Paul’s approach to the conflicts he faces with the Corinthians, including the challenges to his apostolic leadership. Sumney recognizes that central to 2 Corinthians—those sections describing at length the nature of Paul’s ministry—are in many ways unparalleled in all of Paul.
—Efrain Agosto
Williams College