II Corinthians (The Anchor Yale Bible | AYB)

by Victor Paul Furnish

Publisher:

Yale University Press

, 2008

Overview

Nothing speaks more highly for a commentary than how valuable it is to pastors and scholars, students, and interested readers. By all accounts, Victor Paul Furnish’s commentary on II Corinthians has become the standard by which others are judged. In addition, Furnish has “accomplished a difficult task with remarkable skill and apparent ease” (Biblical Theology Bulletin), and has given us “one of [the Anchor Yale Bible’s] finest studies” (Catholic Biblical Quarterly). In the internationally renowned tradition of the Anchor Yale Bible series, this commentary is an excellent and indispensable tool for biblical study.

Scholars rarely possess both the gift of academic excellence and the ability to communicate their expertise in an extremely readable fashion; but Furnish succeeds admirably with the right balance of scholarship and practical application, offered in the most accessible prose. With a mastery of primary languages and sources, and a lucid discussion of the first-century context of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, the reader enters the worldview of the original recipients of this hard-hitting letter. In the end, Furnish successfully navigates the maze of difficulties faced by the commentator and, thankfully, helps the general audience understand what II Corinthians says and means.

Logos Bible Software gives you the tools you need to use this volume effectively and efficiently. With your digital library, you can search for verses, find Scripture references and citations instantly, and perform word studies. Along with your English translations, all Scripture passages are linked to Greek and Hebrew texts. What’s more, hovering over a Scripture reference will instantly display your verse! The advanced tools in your digital library free you to dig deeper into one of the most important contributions to biblical scholarship in the past century!

Key Features

• Offers original translations, including alternative translations, annotations, and variants
• Provides verse-by-verse commentary on the text
• Presents the reader with historical background, including analysis of authorship and dating
• Features an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary literature

Contents

• Chapters 1–9 (Letter D)
  • Letter Opening, 1:1–11
    • Address, 1:1–2
    • Blessing, 1:3–11
  • Letter Body, 1:12–9:15
    • Assurances of Concern, 1:12–2:13
    • Comments on Apostolic Service, 2:14–5:19
    • Appeals, 5:20–9:15
• Chapters 10–13 (Letter E)
  • Letter Body, 10:1–13:10
    • An Appeal for Obedience, 10:1–18
    • A Fool’s Speech, 11:1–12:13
    • Renewal and Conclusion of the Appeal, 12:14–13:10
  • Letter Closing, 13:11–13[14]

Top Highlights

“This would be a curious reversal of the military imagery Paul had applied to his apostolate earlier in the letter (10:3–6), but it is just such reversals as this that are characteristic of his ‘fool’s speech.’ Earlier he assured the Corinthians of his courage (10:2) and boasted of his authority (10:8). Now he is writing to them of his humiliations and boasting of his weaknesses.” (Page 542)

“Finally, from these passages one may surmise that the intruders were skilled in the art of Hellenistic rhetoric (11:6; cf. 10:10), and that they boasted specifically about being of Jewish stock (11:21b–22).” (Page 50)

“In addition to general studies of Paul’s opponents (e.g., Gunther 1973), there have been numerous books and articles specifically on his Corinthian opponents (e.g., Schmithals 1971; Bieder 1961; Friedrich 1963b; Georgi 1964; Oostendorp 1967; Barrett 1971; Machalet 1973; Thrall 1980), a survey of which discloses what varied conclusions can be drawn from the limited evidence that is available. The history of the research on this topic has been often reviewed (see, e.g., Hughes, 356–58; Barrett, 28–30, and 1971:233–36; Friedrich 1963b:192–96; Georgi 1964:7–16; Machalet 1973:183–90; G. Barth 1980:257–59), and need not be repeated here.” (Page 49)

“In the context of Acts the story does help to illustrate God’s mercy and provident care of Paul. But its context in 2 Cor is quite different.” (Page 541)

“Corinth, therefore, has the distinction of being the city in which the earliest of Paul’s surviving letters was written” (Page 24)

A quite superb commentary . . . everything that a good commentary should be

—Expository Times

Perhaps the definitive commentary on the letter in English

—Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

Product Details

• Title: II Corinthians
• Author: Victor Paul Furnish
• Series: Anchor Yale Bible (AYB)
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication Date: 2005
• Pages: 648

About Victor Paul Furnish

University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.