Suffering and Ministry in the Spirit: Paul’s Defense of his Ministry in 2 Corinthians 2:14–3:3

by Scott J. Hafemann

Publisher:

Paternoster

, 2000

The Apostle Paul is the most notable Christian missionary and perhaps the most influential New Testament author. The greatest theologians in the church’s history—Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Karl Barth, and others—have repeatedly turned to Paul, and the central doctrines of the church hinge on the theology found in Paul’s writings. Yet in recent decades, disputes over the historicity of Paul’s letters and the emergence of the New Perspective have led scholars to reevaluate central Pauline texts, leading to controversy, dispute, and a fractured understanding of Paul’s intent.

Shedding new light on the way Paul defended his apostleship, the author of this resource offers a careful, detailed study of 2 Corinthians 2:14–3:3 linked with other key passages throughout 1 and 2 Corinthians. Demonstrating the unity and coherence of Paul’s argument in this passage, the author shows that Paul’s suffering served as the vehicle for revealing God’s power and glory through the Spirit.

Key Features

• Includes bibliographical references
• Contains indexes of key passages and subjects

Contents

Top Highlights

“It is as a conquered enemy, then, that Paul, as a ‘slave of Christ,’ was now, to take the image in its most specific meaning, being led by God to death in order that he might display or reveal the majesty, power, and glory of his conqueror.” (Pages 32–33)

“To be led in triumph could thus mean, in a word, to be led to one’s death in the ceremony of the triumphal procession as a display of the victor’s glory and, by implication, of the benevolence of the deity in granting this victory to the victor.” (Page 31)

“the captives ‘led in triumph’ were, in reality, being led to their death.” (Page 22)

“Paul views himself in his apostolic calling not only as one who preaches the message of good news to the world, but equally important, as one ordained by God to be an embodiment of that gospel, called to reveal the knowledge of God by and through his very life.” (Page 16)

“Paul’s revelatory function is grounded in the fact that in his suffering he preaches and acts in the Spirit, and that in the midst of his being led to death the Spirit is poured out on others to bring them to life in Christ.” (Page 46)

Endorsements

A book of persuasive power.

—Jerome Murphy O'Connor

Product Details

• Title: Suffering and Ministry in the Spirit: Paul’s Defence of His Ministry in 2 Corinthians 2:14–3:3
• Author: Scott J. Hafemann
• Publisher: Paternoster
• Print Publication Date: 2000
• Logos Release Date: 2011
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 › Criticism, interpretation, etc
• ISBNs: 9780853649670, 0853649677
• Resource ID: LLS:SUFFMININSPRT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:14:31Z

About Scott J. Hafemann

Dr. Hafemann rejoined Gordon-Conwell in 2004 after having served since 1995 as the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College and Graduate School. He formerly served as Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell (1987 to 1995) and directed the Greek program for four years. He was also Assistant Professor of New Testament at Taylor University and Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament at Saint John’s University. Dr. Hafemann serves as President of Mission: Chad, a Christian ministry supporting the orphan rescue-work and theological education of the churches of Chad, where he also regularly teaches at Shalom Evangelical School of Theology. He is also active teaching in Bible colleges and seminaries in the majority world. Besides Chad, he has taught most recently in Greece, Croatia and India. Commentaries on