Ministry in the New Realm: A Theology of 2 Corinthians (New Testament Theology)

“I have twice worked through 2 Corinthians with Dane Ortlund’s marvelous commentary and benefited enormously. Now this volume distills the insights of that exegetical work. Weakness, deprivation, loss, exclusion—things the world sees as curses—will, if met with faith in Christ, turn out to be blessings. God’s power generally comes to us through our weakness. Ortlund unfolds the implications of this radical, counterintuitive, and countercultural message in ways that are deeply provocative but also profoundly comforting.”

“Most Christians think they know the theology of the apostle Paul. But few, I fear, know Paul himself. I have always believed that the best way to discover the heart of this man is by reading and reflecting on 2 Corinthians and the way in which the dawning of the new age transformed this formerly angry Pharisee into the apostle of Jesus Christ. This epistle, to the surprise of many, is my favorite New Testament book. Dane Ortlund’s excellent unpacking of its theology only confirms my esteem. If you’ve never immersed yourself in 2 Corinthians, this short treatment of its primary focus is the place to begin. I trust it will lead you to take a deep dive into the way in which the gospel enabled Paul to find strength in the midst of weakness, peace in the midst of conflict, and hope in the face of constant opposition.”

“A theological commentary on this surprisingly neglected New Testament epistle is long overdue. This volume gives us a systematic overview of Christian teaching as found in 2 Corinthians that will be of immense value to students and teachers alike.”

“Dane Ortlund has done us a great service in writing this book: no one should preach through 2 Corinthians without reading it! Writing on 2 Corinthians is often complex and even confused, but this reliable guide is succinct, crystal clear, profound, and, like the letter itself, immeasurably rich. Short enough to serve the preacher well, it manages to handle all the key points of debate deftly. The chapters ‘Inaugurated Eschatology’ and ‘Strength through Weakness’ alone are worth the purchase price. I cannot commend this book highly enough.”