2 Corinthians
Author: Paul
Paul defends his apostleship and reveals the paradox of strength through weakness and suffering.
Summary of the Book of 2 Corinthians
Written: c. AD 55–56
This is Paul's most personal and most turbulent letter. Between 1 Corinthians and this letter came a painful visit, a severe letter written "with many tears," and agonized waiting until Titus met him in Macedonia with news that the church had repented. Chapters 1–7 overflow with relief and with the letter's great theme: the God "who comforts us in all our affliction" so that the comforted can comfort others. Paul explains his changed travel plans, urges forgiveness for the offender, and describes gospel ministry as new-covenant glory carried in fragile people — treasure in clay vessels — sustained by the promise that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."
Chapters 8–9 turn to the collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem. Paul holds up the Macedonians, whose deep poverty overflowed in generosity, and grounds giving in the gospel itself: though the Lord Jesus was rich, for their sakes he became poor. God loves a cheerful giver, and whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.
The tone hardens sharply in chapters 10–13, aimed at intruders Paul dryly calls "super-apostles," who traded on credentials, eloquence, and visions. Forced into "foolish" boasting, Paul inverts the whole contest: he boasts of beatings, shipwrecks, sleepless nights, daily anxiety for all the churches, an escape over a city wall in a basket — and a thorn in the flesh God refused to remove, answering instead, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." That sentence is the letter's center of gravity: authentic ministry is cruciform, and weakness is precisely where Christ's power comes to rest.
Written to restore a strained relationship, complete the Jerusalem collection, and defend an apostleship whose credential is weakness carried by God's power.