Pain and Paradox in 2 Corinthians (2nd Edition): The Transformative Function of Strength in Weakness

What is God doing in our weaknesses? The world may say "nothing," but the apostle Paul says "everything."

In Pain and Paradox in 2 Corinthians, B. G. White shows how Jesus Christ has entered human weakness and will not let it remain the same. While 2 Corinthians is often dismissed as a defensive and retaliatory letter, White argues that it may be one of Paul's most pastoral writings. At the heart of 2 Corinthians lies a paradox about power that defines Paul's life and theology and challenges the Corinthian community to align their ethics with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

White explores how Paul uses his motif of "strength in weakness" to build up the Corinthians and what that means for our own theological understanding of suffering. White argues that the key to interpreting 2 Corinthians is the community's experience of pain and how Paul, in response, presents his experience of Christ's resurrection power as a paradigm in which the Corinthians learn how Christ transforms their emotions, behaviors, and sense of identity.

Rather than shying away from the paradoxical, White suggests that the genius of Paul's message lies in the literary and theological nuances of the "strength in weakness" paradox. Through detailed exegesis and pastoral reflection, White shows how Paul's paradox resists both the fear of suffering and the belief that suffering is inherently good. He insists, above all, that the center of gravity in 2 Corinthians is not Paul's opponents or the apostle's personal suffering, but the distinctive way in which Paul envisions Jesus Christ redeeming and transforming the Corinthian community.

What you'll find in Pain and Paradox in 2 Corinthians:

An original perspective on Paul's "strength in weakness" paradox that is useful for preaching and stimulates reflection on the nature and purpose of suffering in the Christian life.
Insightful illumination of how pain is part of God's vision for power.
Practical ministry implications and advice on preaching 2 Corinthians drawn from White's biblical exposition.


About this Edition

Revised and expanded from its original publication, this edition features new pastoral reflections at the end of each chapter. A new foreword by Lisa M. Bowens and new afterword by Amy B. Peeler further situate the usefulness of White's exegesis for academics, pastors, and students who want to gain insights from 2 Corinthians for preaching, teaching, and theological inquiry.Read less