WORD

BIBLICAL

COMMENTARY

VOLUME 40

2 Corinthians

Second Edition

RALPH P. MARTIN

General Editor: Ralph P. Martin

Old Testament Editor: Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford

New Testament Editor: Lynn Allan Losie

Editorial Board

Old Testament Editor: Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford (2011–)

New Testament Editor: Peter H. Davids (2013–)

Past Editors

General Editors

Ralph P. Martin (2012–2013)

Bruce M. Metzger (1997–2007)

David A. Hubbard (1977–1996)

Glenn W. Barker (1977–1984)

Old Testament Editors:

John D. W. Watts (1977–2011)

James W. Watts (1997–2011)

New Testament Editors:

Ralph P. Martin (1977–2012)

Lynn Allan Losie (1997–2013)

The first edition of this commentary paid tribute to a founding editor, Glenn Wesley Barker (1920–1984). Now it is in a similar way that this revised version is dedicated to another member of the editorial team.

IN MEMORIAM

Bruce Manning Metzger

(1914–2007)

Professor Metzger served as General Editor for only a few years, but left his unique stamp on the series. His work as textual scholar, translator, and teacher is valued by all who knew him, joined to his Christian character and unassuming modesty.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This second edition of 2 Corinthians was completed by Ralph Martin shortly before his death in 2013. It is only in-house production time that resulted in the commentary being published posthumously. Zondervan Academic deeply appreciates the role that Dr. Martin has played in the Word Biblical Commentary series.

ZONDERVAN

2 Corinthians, Volume 40

Copyright © 1986, 2014 by Ralph P. Martin

This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook.

Visit www.zondervan.com/ebooks.

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Control Number: 2005 295211

ISBN 978-1418-50773-2

The author’s own translation of the text appears in italic type under the heading Translation.

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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—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Contents

Editors’ Preface

Author’s Preface to First Edition

Preface to Revised Edition

Abbreviations

Commentary Bibliography

General Bibliography

Introduction

1. Corinth: City and Church

2. Paul’s Visits to Corinth

3. Correspondence with the Church at Corinth

4. An Analysis of 2 Corinthians

5. An Outline of 2 Corinthians

6. Literary Problems in 2 Corinthians

Excursus: The History of the Composition of 2 Corinthians

Excursus: The Composition of 2 Corinthians (1985–2007)

Carl N. Toney

7. The Setting of 2 Corinthians in Paul’s Life...