Preaching the Word: 2 Corinthians—Power in Weakness

by R. Kent Hughes

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2006

Overview

During Paul’s ministry, Corinth was a newly rebuilt, wealthy, and influential city in the Roman Empire. Contemporary western culture has much in common with the ancient church in Corinth, so the relevance of this book for Christians today is very apparent. In this commentary on 2 Corinthians, Pastor R. Kent Hughes carefully examines this letter from the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, continuing to provide rich biblical insight for the body of Christ.

Our contemporary culture has much in common with ancient Corinth. The relevance of this book to churches today is astounding. Paul delivers powerful theology that turns the values of the ancient Roman world upside-down—the grace of God, the centrality of the cross, and God’s power made perfect in weakness. He challenges us to live counterculturally.

In this commentary on 2 Corinthians, Pastor R. Kent Hughes carefully examines this letter from the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, continuing to provide rich biblical insight for the body of Christ.

Contents

Top Highlights

“This is Christian realism. Christians are never powerful in themselves but are only vessels in which God’s power is exhibited.” (Page 90)

“When we know that our lives are not our own, neither will we think that our possessions are our own. It’s easy to surrender part when we’ve already given the whole. There is an implicit lesson here: It won’t do any good to give our possessions to God unless we have given ourselves.” (Page 158)

“Whenever Christ says no to our desperate passionate pleadings, the no is freighted with his perfect, compassionate goodness and love. The Lord’s answers to our prayers are never negative, except in a superficial sense, because ultimately they are fully positive, bringing God’s unending blessing.¹² How good for us it is when our hearts embrace this.” (Page 213)

“Have we embraced our weakness as a way of life—and as the invitation to his surpassing power?” (Page 90)

“There is a reason for this, and it was to answer critics who held that the sufferings that characterized Paul’s life were evidence that he was not an apostle, because if he was the real thing he wouldn’t be experiencing so much trouble. Paul’s answer was that abundant suffering and abundant comfort are in fact signs of apostolic authenticity.” (Page 22)

Product Details

• Title: 2 Corinthians—Power in Weakness
• Author: R. Kent Hughes
• Series: Preaching the Word
• Publisher: Crossway
• Print Publication Date: 2006
• Logos Release Date: 2007
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. 2 Corinthians › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:PRWDCOR2
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-30T23:42:52Z

About R. Kent Hughes

R. Kent Hughes (DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and recently retired as professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hughes is also a founder of the Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences throughout North America and worldwide.He is the series editor for the Preaching the Word commentary series and is the author or coauthor of many books. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, and have four children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren.