Second Corinthians

Second Corinthians is packed with challenges and treasures. Perhaps no other letter attributed to Paul demands more study and effort. In this letter Paul opens to us a unique window into the way he understands his apostolic life and ministry as patterned after the example of Jesus. We see the Apostle’s love and care for a church he has founded. We sense his joys and frustrations. We discover a fledgling community that struggles with many of the same issues that Christians face today, nearly twenty centuries later. And in the midst of all this, we catch glimpses of Paul’s inspired—and inspiring—insight into who God is and how he has reached out in love to the world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Such insights into God’s faithfulness and love demand an appropriate response, and Paul challenges the Corinthians—as well as us—to offer one.

This fourth volume of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, like each in the series, relates Scripture to life, is faithfully Catholic, and is supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively in teaching, preaching, evangelization, and other forms of ministry. It is intended to facilitate the reader’s fruitful engagement with Paul’s letter. In addition to commentary and exposition of the text, Thomas Stegman discusses authorship, literary unity, historical context, theological themes, and relevance for today.

We are pleased to announce that Baker has decided to publish books for use with Logos Bible Software. These books are being released through the Pre-Pub program and will be pushed into development when there are enough orders to cover costs.

Detailed exposition and commentary on the textAccessible for English-only studyIntroduction to authorship, literary unity, historical context, theological themes, and contemporary relevanceOutline of the bookSuggestions for further readingIndex of pastoral topics in Second Corinthians

A blessing offered to the whole Church, Tom Stegman's commentary presents the heart of St. Paul's message: the fullness of God's love for us that has opened up a new way of life, empowered by the intimate presence of the Holy Spirit, who shapes us more and more in the likeness of Christ. This inspiring book will encourage numerous Catholics and other Christians in understanding better and accepting more generously a truly Christ-centered existence.

—Gerald O'Collins, SJ, emeritus professor of theology, Pontifical Gregorian University

Thomas Stegman's commentary on 2 Corinthians is elegant, clear, and deeply insightful. He takes one of Paul's hardest letters and makes it intelligible. With a masterful grasp of Paul's rhetoric, he shows readers how the apostle challenges his ancient readers--and readers today--to live out the character of Jesus Christ.

—Luke Timothy Johnson, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

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