Cutting Ties with Darkness
2 Corinthians
Transformative Word
John D. Barry
Edited by Craig G. Bartholomew
Cutting Ties with Darkness: 2 Corinthians
Transformative Word Series, edited by Craig Bartholomew
Copyright 2014 Lexham Press
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Unless otherwise noted as the author’s own translation, Scripture quotations are from the Lexham English Bible (leb), copyright 2013 by Lexham Press. Lexham is a registered trademark of Faithlife Corporation.
Academic Editor: Derek R. Brown
Research Assistant: Abby Salinger
Developmental Editor: David Bomar
Additional Lexham Editors: Lynnea Fraser, Rebecca Brant, Abigail Stocker, Joel Wilcox
Cover Design: Christine Gerhart
To my dear friend Paul,
who calls me to center my life on Jesus.
And to all who seek freedom in Jesus’ name—
you will find it.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: The Threads of Life
2. The Tough Decisions Christians Must Make
3. A God Who Comforts Us in All Affliction
4. Defending Ourselves like Paul Would
5. Zebras, Lions, and Theology
6. Who Do You Work for—Really?
7. Joy, Grief, and Making Peace
8. How to Love the Impoverished
9. Fighting the Spiritual War against Darkness
10. Super-Apostles and Boasting in Jesus
Appendix: Flesh and Law in Paul’s Theology
Bibliography of Academic Works
1. Introduction: The Threads of Life
“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep.” When Frodo Baggins says these words at the end of the movie The Return of the King, they carry the full weight of someone who is grieving deeply.1 These words echo some of my relationships. I often wonder: “With all the damage that has been done, how can we ever return to how things used to be?” And, “Was there ever really anything to our friendship at all?” This is how Paul must have felt when he wrote 2 Corinthians. In this deeply personal letter, Paul offers profound insights into relationships. He writes out of both love and pain. He writes about severing relationships and mending them. He writes in a way that is decidedly centered on God, as seen in the person of Christ. Paul is humble and meek; he is bold and adamant.2 But I don’t want to give away the punchline here; I’ll let Paul do that as we journey together through past hurts and intelligent solutions—as we learn what darkness is and how to cut ties with it.
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About Cutting Ties with Darkness: 2 CorinthiansThe story behind 2 Corinthians is one of pain and heartache. The Apostle Paul is wrestling to maintain his relationship with the young church in Corinth that he established. Paul writes this deeply personal letter to pick up the pieces of a broken relationship. We all have painful stories and relationships that are on the rocks. In Cutting Ties with Darkness, John D. Barry explores how we deal with these scars in light of Jesus’ example. How do we discern when to reconcile and when to walk away? In these relationships, our own judgment can become clouded. Paul tells us that we must cut ties with the darkness—both within ourselves and in others—before we’re able to rebuild our lives on the redemption of Jesus. |
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