2 Corinthians

Colin G. Kruse, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Robert W. Yarbrough, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Robert W. Yarbrough

• Publisher: B&H Academic
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781462743964
• eBook ISBN: 9781462743971
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (EGGNT) closes the gap between the Greek text and the available lexical and grammatical tools, providing all the necessary information for greater understanding of the text. The series makes interpreting any given New Testament book easier, especially for those who are hard pressed for time but want to preach or teach with accuracy and authority. Each volume begins with a brief introduction to the particular New Testament book, a basic outline, and a list of recommended commentaries. The body is devoted to paragraph-by-paragraph exegesis of the Greek text and includes homiletical helps and suggestions for further study. A comprehensive exegetical outline of the New Testament book completes each EGGNT volume.

2 CORINTHIANS

Introduction

AUTHOR

Paul identifies himself as the author of this letter and as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will.” While this ascription is generally universally accepted, some have questioned whether 6:14–7:1 is an original part of the letter and whether it might be a later interpolation either by Paul himself or even some other person. However, interpolation theories raise greater problems than they solve, for it is extremely difficult to explain, on those theories, why anyone would introduce such a passage at this place. If it is not a later interpolation, we have two tasks before us: to understand the message of 6:14–7:1 itself, and to relate it somehow to the rest of the letter, especially its immediate context. These issues are discussed in commentaries recommended for further reading.

DATE AND PROVENANCE

Assigning dates to the various points in Paul’s career and to the time of writing of his letters is fraught with difficulties. In the case of his relationship with the Corinthians, we do have a couple of possible reference points that may help. First‚ Acts 18:2 tells us that when Paul arrived in Corinth on his first visit “he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.” This edict of Claudius is generally held to have been promulgated in AD 49. Second‚ in Acts 18:12–17 we read that during Paul’s first visit to Corinth, he was brought before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. Fragments of an inscription found during excavations at Delphi contain a reproduction of a letter from the emperor Claudius from which it can be inferred that Gallio held office in Corinth from the spring of AD 51 to the spring of AD 52. However, a statement made by Seneca‚ the Stoic philosopher and brother of Gallio, informs us that Gallio did not complete his term of office‚ and it is therefore impossible to date Paul’s encounter with him in the latter part of his term. It must have taken place then between July and October AD 51.

Working from these reference points and taking note of the information provided about Paul’s movements in the Acts of the Apostles (and assuming that this is essentially compatible with what may be inferred from Paul’s letters), the following chronology for Paul’s contacts with the Corinthians can be suggested. He arrived in Corinth for his first visit in early AD 50. After spending eighteen months there, he was arraigned before Gallio (latter half of AD 51). He stayed on in Corinth “for some time” after the arraignment (Acts 18:18)‚ then sailed for Antioch. After spending “some time” there (v. 18:23), Paul traveled through Galatia to Ephesus, where he spent two years and three months (AD 52–55). After leaving Corinth, and quite possibly during his stay in Ephesus, the apostle wrote the “previous letter” to the Corinthians. Toward the end of his time in Ephesus (AD 55), he wrote 1 Corinthians, made the “painful visit” (2 Cor 2:1), and wrote the “severe letter.” Paul then left Ephesus, traveling via Troas to Macedonia, where he met Titus, and from there he wrote 2 Corinthians (AD 56). He then made his third visit to Corinth and spent three months in Greece before setting out with the collection to Jerusalem, hoping to arrive there in time for Pentecost AD 57.

OCCASION AND PURPOSE

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia around AD 56, having received news from Titus that the Corinthians had responded positively to his “severe letter,” and had disciplined the offender who had attacked their apostle when he made his “painful visit” to them. He wanted to deal with criticisms of himself that had been aired in Corinth (1:12–24). The offender had apparently repented of his actions, so another reason Paul wrote was to call upon the Corinthians to forgive and reinstate him “so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan” (2:1–13). Having done this, Paul was able to urge the Corinthians to carry out their previous intention to contribute to the collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem (chs. 8–9). At the same time, or as a follow up, in chs. 10–13 Paul wrote to defend himself against a frontal attack on his ministry being made by “false apostles” who had infiltrated the Christian community in Corinth (11:1, 13). The letter ends without any indication whether this defense was successful. However, Paul’s Letter to the Romans, written shortly after 2 Corinthians, indicates that the Corinthians had contributed to the collection he was organizing for the believers in Jerusalem, not something they would have wanted to do if they still believed the slanderous charges the false apostles made against him.

STRUCTURE

As reflected in the following outline, 2 Corinthians consists of two major parts: Paul’s response to a crisis already resolved by the time of writing (1:1–9:15), and hi...

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Publisher’s Preface
• General Introduction to the EGGNT Series
• Abbreviations
• 2 Corinthians
• Exegetical Outline
• Grammar Index
• Scripture Index