Dockery: Commenting on Commentaries on 2 Corinthians

Criswell Theological Review 4.1 (1989) 153-157.

COMMENTING ON COMMENTARIES

ON 2 CORINTHIANS

DAVID S. DOCKERY

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Louisville, KY 40280

As we prepare to teach the 1990 Winter Bible study on 2 Corinthians,

there are several important works worth noting. After several years of

neglect by Pauline scholars, 2 Corinthians has now attracted the atten-

tion it deserves. With the forthcoming works by M. J. Harris in the

New International Greek New Testament Commentary, and M. E.

Thrall, in the new International Critical Commentary, the interest in

this epistle will certainly continue to grow. This important epistle has

numerous challenges for the interpreter. In many ways, it is simul-

taneously the most passionate and most difficult of the Pauline epistles.

Emphasis on ministry, suffering, weakness, and genuine maturity will

bring rewards for students, teachers, and hearers as well.

For the evangelical student, the small work by M. J. Harris in

vol. 10 of the Expositor's Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 1976), even

though limited by space, is excellent and deserves careful reading and

meditation. The top three full-leugth commentaries include C. K.

Barrett (Harper, 1974), V. P. Furnish in the Anchor Bible (Doubleday,

1984), and R. P. Martin in the Word Bible Commentary (Word, 1985).

Barrett's volume is outstanding, though his treatment of chaps. 10-13

will not satisfy everyone. Furnish has given us the most careful exe-

getical treatment and has not failed to tackle every major issue. If one

disagrees with Furnish, it will require competent exegesis and theolo-

gizing to counter his conclusions. Martin's work is a bibliographical

goldmine. It is worth consulting to trace out the important articles on

the "problem passages" in 2 Corinthians 3, 5, and 10-13. Yet Martin

evidences his growing tendency toward speculative interpretation, as

well as E. Kasemann's influence upon him.

154 CRISWELL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW

The second line of works on 2 Corinthians is headed by F. F.

Bruce in the New Century Bible (Eerdmans, 1971). It is a brief work

with great dependence on Barrett. P. Hughes, writing in the New

International Commentary, has produced a solid and reliable theo-

logical work well worth consulting. Four other important works that

need to be mentioned are: G. R. Beasley-Murray (Broadman, 1971);

R. V. G. Tasker (Tyndale New Testament Commentary, 1958);

C. Kruse (Eerdmans, 1987); P. Barnett, The Message of 2 Corinthians

(InterVarsity, 1988).

Some older works are difficult to find, but are nevertheless very

useful. These include: H. A. W. Meyer (Bannerman, 1884); A. Plummer

(T. & T. Clark, 1915); C. Hodge (1857) and J. H. Bernard, in vol. 3 of

the Expositor's Greek Testament (1903). J. Denney's (1894) older and

out-of-print work is most reliable and helpful throughout.

While there are dozens of significant articles, in addition to the

fine contributions in this issue of CTR, there are also more general

works that are most informative for those who wish to focus on the

more challenging sections of this book. D. A. Carson's From Tri-

umphalism to Maturity (Baker, 1984) superbly handles chaps. 10-13.

Carson's typical careful and warm exposition is evident throughout

this volume. D. A. Black's Paul: Apostle of Weakness (Lang, 1984)

makes an important contribution to the issues of weakness, suffering,

and glory in this epistle. H. D. Betz, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9: A Com-

mentary on Two Administrative Letters of the Apostle Paul (Fortress,

1985) adds insight to these two middle chapters. D. Georgi wrestles

with the numerous attempts to identify the opponents and their doc-

trine in The Opponents of Paul in Second Corinthians (Fortress,

1986). Sociological approaches that provide useful insight to the issues

surrounding the Corinthian community can be found in R. F. Hock,

The Social Context of Paul's Ministry: Tentmaking and Apostleship

(Fortress, 1980) and W.A. Meeks, The First Urban Christians (Yale,

1983). Two other volumes that should be consulted are K. F. Nickle's

The Collection: A Study in Paul's Strategy (Allenson, 1966) and D. W.

Oostendorp's Another Jesus: A Gospel of Jewish-Christian Superiority

in II Corinthians (Kamper, 1967). Though dated, W. Schmithals' Gnos-

ticism in Corinth (1971) has been significant for the discussion over

the past two decades.

A recent work calling for a "hermeneutics of retrieval" that brings

out the theology of 2 Corinthians, as well as arguing for the integrity

of this complicated book, is Meaning and Truth in 2 Corinthians

(Eerdmans, 1987), by F. Young and D. Ford. I highly recommend this

study. Another important and extremely valuable recent work is

P. Marshall's Enmity in Corinth: Social Conventions in Paul's Relations

Dockery: COMMENTING ON COMMENTARIES 155

with the Corinthians (Mohr, 1987). A. T. Robertson's The Glory of the

Ministry (Revell, 1911) is a classic.

While none of us will need to consult all of these works to

prepare to teach 2 Corinthians, these works hopefully will guide us as

we seek to minister the word of God in the churches in 1990. Second

Corinthians depicts a powerful debate between Paul and the tri-

umphalist opponents who had recently come to Corinth. While it is a

fascinating account of this emotional conflict, it is primarily a book

that communicates to Christ's church the message that God's power is

made known in human weakness.

A bibliography of the works mentioned in this brief article, in

addition to other works on 2 Corinthians, follows. Let us thank God

for the labors that have gone into these works and ask for divine

enablement in our study and exposition of this challenging epistle.

Commentaries

Barnett, Paul. The Message of 2 Corinthians. BST. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-

Varsity, 1988.

Barrett, C. K. A Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians.

HNTC. New York: Harper, 1973.

Beasley-Murray, George R. "2 Corinthians." In the Broadman Bible Commen-

tary, vol. 11, ed. by C. J. Allen. Nashville: Broadman, 1971.

Bernard, J. H. "The Second Epistle to the Corinthians." In The Expositor's

Greek Testament, vol. 3, ed. by W. R. Nicoll. 1903 reprint. Grand Rapids:

Eerdmans, 1970.

Bratcher, R. G. A Translator's Guide to Paul’s Second Letter to the Corin-

thians. London: United Bible Societies, 1983.

Bruce, F. F. 1 and 2 Corinthians. NCB. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971.

Bultmann, R. The Second Letter to the Corinthians. Trans. by R. A.

Harrisville. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1985.

Calvin, J. Commentary on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.

Reprinted. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960.

Denney, J. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. London: Hodder and .

Stoughton, 1894.

Duduit, Michael. Joy in Ministry: Messages from II. Corinthians. Grand Rapids:

Baker, 1989.

Furnish, V. P. II Corinthians. AB. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1984.

Goudge, H. L. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. London: Methuen,

1927.

Hanson, R. P. C. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Torch. London: I

SCM, 1954.

Harris, M. J. "2 Corinthians." In The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 10,

ed. by F. E. Gaebelein. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976.

156 CRISWELL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW

Hering, Jean. The Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Trans.

A. W. Heathcote and P. J. Allcock. London: Epworth, 1967.

Hodge, C. A Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians

Reprinted. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.

Hughes, P. E. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NICT; Grand

Eerdmans, 1962.

Kruse, C. G. The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. Grand

Eerdmans, 1987.

Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. Paul's First and Second Epistle

the Corinthians. Columbus: Wartburg, 1946.

Martin, R. P. 2 Corinthians. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1986.

Meyer, H. A. W. Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Epistles to the

Corinthians. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1884.

Moule, H. C. G. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. London:

and Inglis, 1962.

Plummer, A. A. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Second Epistle

of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1915.

________.The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Cam-

bridge: Cambridge University Press, 1903.

Strachan, R. H. The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. Moffatt; New

York: Harper and Brothers, 1935.

Tasker, R. V. G. The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. Tyndale.

Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1958.

General Works

Baird, W. "Visions, Revelations, and Ministry: Reflections on 2 Corinthians

12:1-5 and Galatians 1:11-17." JBL 104 (1985) 651-62.

Barrett, C. K. The Signs of an Apostle. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1972.

________."Paul's Opponents in II Corinthians." NTS 17 (1971) 233-54.

Berry, R. "Death and Life in Christ: The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10."

SJT 14 (1961) 60-76.

Betz, H. D. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9: A Commentary on Two Administrative

Letters of the Apostle Paul. Ed. by G. W. MacRae. Philadelphia: Fortress,

1985.

Black, D. A. Paul: Apostle of Weakness. New York: Lang, 1984.

Bornkamm, G. "The History of the Origin of the So-Called Second Letter to

the Corinthians." NTS 8 (1961) 258-64.

Carson, D. A. From Triumphalism to Maturity. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984.

Dunn, J. D. G. "2 Corinthians III. 17 -'The Lord is the Spirit.'" JTS 21 (1970)

309-20.

Fee, G. D. "2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 and Food Offered to Idols." NTS 23 (1977)

140-61.

Forbes, C. "Comparison, Self-Praise and Irony: Paul's Boasting and the Con-

ventions of Hellenistic Rhetoric.." NTS 32 (1986) 1-30.

Friesen, I. I. The Glory. of the Ministry of Iesus Christ Illustrated by a Study

of 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:18 Basel: Reinhardt, 1971.

Dockery: COMMENTING ON COMMENTARIES 157

Georgi, D. The Opponents of Paul in Second Corinthians. Philadelphia:

Fortress, 1986.

Harris, M. J. "Paul's View of Death in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10." In New Dimen-

sions in New Testament Study, ed. by R. N. Longenecker and M. C.

Tenney. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1974, 317-28.

Hock, R. F. The Social Context of Paul’s Ministry: Tentmaking and Apostle-

ship. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980.

Kennedy, J. H. The Second and Third Epistles of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

London: Methuen, 1900.

Lincoln, A. T. Paradise Now and Not Yet: Studies in the Role of the Heavenly

Dimension in Paul’s Thought with Special Reference to His Eschatology.

SNTSMS 43. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.

_________."'Paul the Visionary': The Setting and Significance of the Rapture to

Paradise in 2 Corinthians XII:1-10." NTS 25 (1978) 204-20.

Marshall, P. Enmity in Corinth: Social Conventions in Paul’s Relations with

the Corinthians. Tubingen: Mohr, 1987.

Martin, R. P. "The Setting of 2 Corinthians." TB 37 (1986) 3-19.

Meeks, W. A. The First Urban Christians. New Haven: Yale University Press,

1983.

Moule, C. F. D. "St. Paul and Dualism: The Pauline Concept of Resurrection."

NTS 12 (1966) 100-23.

Nickle, K. F. The Collection: A Study in Paul’s Strategy. Naperville: Allenson,

1966.

Oostendorp, D. W. Another Jesus: A Gospel of Jewish-Christian Superiority

in II Corinthians. Amsterdam: Kampen, 1967.

Proudfoot, C. M. "Imitation of Realistic Participation? A Study of Paul's

Concept of 'Suffering with Christ'" Int 17 (1963) 140-00.

Robertson, A. T. The Glory of the Ministry. New York: Revell, 1911.

Schmithals, W. Gnosticism in Corinth. Trans. by John E. Steely. Nashville:

Abingdon, 1971.

Spencer,. A. B. "The Wise Fool (And the Foolish Wise): A Study of Irony in

Paul." NovT 4 (1981) 349-60.

Stephenson, A. M. G. "A Defense of the Integrity of 2 Corinthians" in The

Authority and Integrity of the New Testament, 82-97. London: SPCK 1965.

Tabor, J. D. Things Unutterable: Paul’s Ascent to Paradise in its Greco-

Roman, Judaic, and Early Christian Contexts. Lanham, MD: University

Press of America, 1986.

Theissen, G. The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity: Essays on Corinth.

Trans. by J. H. Schutz. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982.

Thrall, M. E. "Super Apostles, Servants of Christ, and Servants of Satan."

JSNT 6 (1980) 42-57.

Watson, F. "2 Corinthians X-XIII and Paul's Painful Visit to the Corinthians."

JTS 35 (1984) 324-46.

Young, B. H. "The Ascension Motif of 2 Corinthians 12 in Jewish, Christians,

and Gnostic Texts." GTJ 9 (1988) 73-103.

Young, F. and D. Ford. Meaning and Truth in 2 Corinthians. Grand Rapids: .

Eerdmans, 1987.

This material is cited with gracious permission from:

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Please report any errors to Ted Hildebrandt at: thildebrandt@gordon.edu