A Model of Christian Maturity

An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 10–13

D. A. Carson

Baker Books

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 1984 by Baker Book House Company

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

New paperback edition published in 2007

Previously published under the title From Triumphalism to Maturity: An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 10–13

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Carson, D. A.

[From triumphalism to maturity]

A model of Christian maturity: an exposition of 2 Corinthians 10–13 / D. A. Carson.—New paperback ed.

p. cm.

Originally published: From triumphalism to maturity. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, c1984.

Includes bibliographical references (p.).

ISBN 10: 0-8010-6768-5 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-8010-6768-6 (pbk.)

1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians, 2nd, X–XIII—Criticism, interpretation, etc.

I. Title.

BS2675.52.C37 2007

227′.307—dc22

2007004739

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is 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.

Scripture marked RSV is taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked NEB is taken from The New English Bible. Copyright © 1961, 1970 by The Delegates of Oxford University Press and The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Reprinted by permission.

To Pete and Gail Golz

Contents

Preface

1. Orientation to 2 Corinthians 10–13

2. Disobedience versus Discipline

An Appeal for Obedient Faith (10:1–6)

3. The Ugliness of Spiritual One-upmanship

How Not to Boast in the Lord (10:7–18)

4. The Danger of False Apostleship

Overturning False Criteria (11:1–15)

5. Triumphalistic Qualifications

Answering Fools according to Their Folly (11:16–33)

6. Destroying Super-Spiritual Visionaries

Boasting in Weakness (12:1–10)

7. Open Rebuke

The Failures of the Corinthians and the Motives of the Apostle (12:11–21)

8. Warning and Prayer

Aiming for Maturity (13:1–14)

Preface

I love the apostle Paul. Some people cannot understand my love. They find Paul angular, merely intellectual, intimidating, even arrogant. My response, firmly stated, is that they do not know him.

Despite my love for Paul, I have written very little about him. For one reason or another, my attention during the past dozen years has largely been devoted to Matthew and John, or to broader New Testament themes. Nevertheless I have taught the Pauline ...