The Second Epistle
to the

CORINTHIANS

Paul Barnett

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, U.K.

© 1997 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 /
P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K.
All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Barnett, Paul (Paul William)
The Second Epistle to the Corinthians / Paul Barnett.
p. cm.
—(The new international commentary on the New Testament)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978-0-8028-2300-7 (cloth: alk. paper)
1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians, 2nd—Commentaries.
I. Title. II. Series.
BS2675.3.B29 1997
227′.3077—dc21 96–49755

CIP

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

FOR
ANITA BARNETT
in gratitude
for
much sacrifice
in apostolic-style
“long-suffering”

CONTENTS

Editor’s Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

Select Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

i. Corinth in the Time of Paul

ii. Paul and Christianity in Corinth

iii. Paul’s Later Relationships with the Corinthians

iv. Issues in 2 Corinthians

ANALYSIS OF 2 CORINTHIANS
(WITH PAGE REFERENCES)

TEXT, EXPOSITION, AND NOTES

i. Introduction (1:1–11)

ii. Personal Defense (1:12–2:13)

iii. Defense of the Ministry of the New Covenant
(2:14–7:4)

iv. Paul in Macedonia: Titus Brings News from Corinth (7:5–9:15)

v. Corinthians: Prepare for Paul’s Third Visit
(10:1–13:14)

INDEXES

Subjects

Authors

Scripture References

Early Extrabiblical Literature

EDITOR’S PREFACE

It has now been nearly thirty-five years since the original commentary on 2 Corinthians, written by Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, appeared in this series. This was a significant volume in the original series not only because it received deserved critical acclaim but also because it set a new standard for the series (acknowledged by the editor, Ned Stonehouse). Though now dated in many ways, it will, and should, continue to be consulted. Nonetheless, the proliferation of Pauline studies, including works on 2 Corinthians, has meant that this volume, too, needed to be replaced so as to bring the busy pastor and student up to date on the interpretation and theology of this very important Pauline letter.

This task has now been brought to a happy conclusion by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Barnett, Anglican bishop of North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Barnett took his first degree in classics and history at the University of Sydney. His Ph.D. was awarded in 1978 by the University of London for a thesis entitled “The Jewish Sign Prophets in Their Theological and Political Setting.” In addition to spending many years in the parish ministry, he held teaching posts at Robert Menzies College (Macquarie University) and the University of Sydney before being elevated to bishop in 1990.

Besides his obvious exegetical skills, Dr. Barnett thus brings ...