2 Corinthians

The Glory and Responsibilities of Christian Service

Geoffrey Grogan

christian

focus

Dr. Geoffrey Grogan was Principal of Glasgow Bible College, now incorporated in the International Christian College. He is still engaged in an active speaking and writing ministry. For Christian Focus he has also written commentaries on Mark, a volume on the person of Christ called The Christ of the Bible and of the Church’s Faith, a study of how Paul responded to the problems of the early church called Wrestling with the Big Issues, and a much-appreciated volume on the Psalms called Prayer, Praise and Prophecy: A Theology of the Psalms.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. niv®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

ISBN 1-84550-252-3

ISBN 978-1-84550-252-2

© Geoffrey W. Grogan

First edition published in 1996

Revised and expanded edition published in 2007

in the

Focus on the Bible Commentary series

by

Christian Focus Publications, Ltd.,

Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire,

IV20 1TW, Great Britain.

www.christianfocus.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher or a license permitting restricted copying. In the U.K. such licenses are issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9HE.

Contents

How to Use This Book

Introduction

1. Introducing His Letter (1:1, 2)

2. Strengthened and Strengthening Others (1:3–11)

3. Sincere and Reliable (1:12–22)

4. Firm and Loving (1:23–2:13)

5. Celebrating and Communicating (2:14–3:6)

6. A Wonderful New Relationship (3:7–18)

7. The Clear Shining of a Great Light (4:1–6)

8. Dying—And Yet Alive! (4:7–12)

9. Waiting for a Better Home (4:13–5:10)

10. Offering Peace (5:11–6:2)

11. The Qualities of True Ministry (6:3–10)

12. The Winsomeness and Strictness of Love (6:11–7:4)

13. Paul’s Friend Returns to Him (7:5–16)

14. Great Examples of Liberality (8:1–15)

15. Paul’s Friend Returns to Them (8:16–9:5)

16. The Blessedness of Liberality (9:6–15)

17. Christian Consistency (10:1–11)

18. God Sets Limits to Paul’s Work (10:12–18)

19. Paul’s Deep Commitment (11:1–15)

20. Paul’s Constant Sufferings (11:16–33)

21. Really an Apostle? (12:1–13)

22. His Plans to Return to Them (12:14–13:10)

23. A Wonderful Conclusion (13:11–14)

Subject Index

Scripture Index

Suggested Books for Further Reading

P. Barnett, The Message of 2 Corinthians (The Bible Speaks Today), Leicester: IVP, 1988

P. Barnett, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Commentary on the New Testament), Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997

C.K. Barrett, A Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, New York: Harper, 1973

E. Best, Second Corinthians, Louisville: John Knox Press, 1987...