Summary
Paul W. Barnett’s The Message of 2 Corinthians walks us patiently through one of Paul’s most personal and emotionally charged letters. He traces the movement from conflict and tension to restored relationship, and from apparent weakness to the display of God’s power in the apostle’s life and ministry. Barnett helps us see how Paul defends his apostleship, explains the nature of new covenant ministry, and calls the church to generous giving and sincere loyalty to Christ.
The commentary is written with pastors and serious Bible readers in view. Barnett keeps close to the text, explains background where it really helps, and then shows how the letter speaks into our own experience of hardship, opposition, and the pressures of ministry. The major themes of 2 Corinthians sit clearly in view: comfort in affliction, integrity in leadership, the glory of the new covenant, the grace of giving, and the strange beauty of strength made perfect in weakness.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
For those preaching through 2 Corinthians, this volume offers a steady hand on some of the New Testament’s more demanding terrain. Barnett pays careful attention to the flow of the argument, helping us make sense of the shifts in tone and topic that can feel disjointed on a first reading. He gives enough historical and cultural background to clarify what was at stake in Corinth without allowing the commentary to become cluttered or academic in feel.
From a Reformed perspective, many will welcome the way Barnett reflects on grace, the cross shaped pattern of Christian ministry, and the work of God through suffering. He writes as a broadly evangelical scholar who takes Scripture as the word of God and handles the text with reverence. We may at points phrase things differently or press certain doctrines further, but there is nothing here that feels unsafe for the pulpit or the pastor’s desk.
Those involved in pastoral ministry will find particular help in Barnett’s treatment of Christian leadership and weakness. He does not romanticise suffering, yet he shows how Paul’s experience exposes shallow views of power and success. The commentary often prompts self examination, as it invites us to measure our ministries by the pattern of the crucified and risen Lord rather than by the standards of the age.
Closing Recommendation
We are glad to commend The Message of 2 Corinthians as a very useful companion for preachers, church leaders, and thoughtful lay readers. It will not replace a more technical commentary where detailed exegesis is needed, but as an expositional guide that joins careful reading with pastoral concern it serves the church well. For most pastors, it will be a trusted first or second pull from the shelf when planning a series in 2 Corinthians.
Paul W. Barnett
Paul W. Barnett (1935– ) is an Australian evangelical historian, New Testament scholar, and bishop, known for combining rigorous historical research with warm, pastoral concern for the church.
Barnett’s contribution includes significant work on the historical background of the New Testament, the life of Paul, and the growth of the early church. His writing blends accessible scholarship with clear theological focus, helping readers understand the reliability and historical rootedness of Christian faith.
He is appreciated for clarity, balance, and a concern to anchor biblical interpretation in real historical context without losing sight of doctrinal truth. His commentaries continue to assist pastors and students seeking grounded, readable exposition.
Key titles include The Message of 2 Corinthians, Is the New Testament Reliable?, and Jesus and the Logic of History.