Free 2 Corinthians Video Study

Users of Logos Bible software might be interested in a free 19-lesson 2 Corinthians video study taught by Scott Hafemann. I am not sure how long it will be free but you can check it out here.

The Holy Kiss

Ken Berding has a good word here on understanding the "holy kiss" (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thess 5:26; cf. 1 Pet 5:18).

Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh” (2 Cor 12:7)

Check out Ken Berding summary of a book that he has written concerning Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7).

The Meaning of “Stronghold” in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Ken Berding has a good explanation here of the meaning of “stronghold” in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. I also agree that, "when we use biblical language, we ought to use it the way the Bible uses it" and unfortunately, Christians often don't when it comes to this term.

Top 10 Commentaries on 2 Corinthians

B. J. Oropeza lists his here.

HT: Brian Small

New Resource for 1–2 Corinthians

BiblePlaces has just released their latest volume 1–2 Corinthians in their Photo Companion to the Bible series. If you preach or teach from these books or are planning to do so in the near future, I would strongly encourage you to check out this resource. There is simply nothing like it or better for illustrating the archaeology and geography related to these epistles. This is a resource created by Bible teachers and preachers for Bible teachers and preachers. 

And since it just released it is on sale at about half-off. Go here (scroll to bottom) and use the coupon CHURCH to receive $50 off and pay only $49 for around 2,500 photos, organized by chapter and verse with helpful explanatory notes.

I would also encourage you to check out the other volumes using this link which are also on sale.

Erastus of Corinth

Carl Rasmussen has a helpful post here on Erastus of Corinth, a personage mentioned in Acts 19:22; Romans 16:13; 2 Timothy 4:20.

The Corinthian Epistles During the Patristic Period

Michael Kok has a brief but helpful survey here of the reception history of 1—2 Corinthians during the Patristic period.

Online Resources for the Corinthian Epistles

Michael Kok provides his list here. To these I would add the following.

Background and Archaeology:

• Corinthian Matters for background materials 
• BiblePlaces for annotated photos for Corinth here and and the Corinth area here

Commentaries

• Bob Utley on 1 and 2 Corinthians here
• Thomas Constable for 1 Corinthians here and 2 Corinthians here
• Precept Austin has a number of links for 1 Corinthians here and for 2 Corinthians here

Acts 18 and the Wickedness of Corinth

Phil Long's post here related to the wickedness of Corinth is spot on. I realize that this will wreck some good sermons but we should strive to present things accurately. By the way, Phil's blog is one of the better biblioblogs out there. I read it often.

A New Resource for Studying Ancient Corinth

This looks like a cool resource for studying ancient Corinth.

Corinth Excavations Archaeological Manual

David Pettigrew notes here that the Corinth Excavations Archaeological Manual is being published but you can download a free PDF. David's informative post is here and you can download the PDF here.

Wallace on Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians Resources

Dan Wallace provides a brief annotated bibliography here of mostly commentaries on the books of Romans. 1-2 Corinthians, and Galatians.

Corinthian and New Testament Studies Bibliography

The Corinthianmatters blog has made available a pretty nifty open bibliography for sources related to Corinth and New Testament studies here. This is particularly nice if you are using the free bibliographic program Zotero.

Common Guest Speaker Mistakes

See Mark Dance's "8 Common Guest Speaker Mistakes" here. I know that I have been guilty of a number of these.

HT: Denny Burk

Mark Seifrid Interview

See this interview of Mark Seifrid related to his new 2 Corinthians commentary in the Pillar series. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

"Listening to the text is the most difficult part of writing a commentary, or any interpretation of Scripture. Listening, listening, and listening again. There is a fourfold responsibility here. First, to let the text speak in all its particularity and detail, even (or especially) where it challenges our thinking. Second, not to lose the forest for the trees. We have to be able to synthesize, to gain a perspective on the whole of what the text is saying. Third — and here many New Testament scholars fail — we have to be aware of what we are saying with respect to the Christian tradition, with respect to what Christians have believed, taught, and confessed before us. Fourth, we have to remember that we are writing for others. Their needs and concerns must be in our minds. Someone has described preaching as being placed between the upper and lower millstones of the Word of God and the congregation, and attempting to come through the grinding. Writing a commentary is something like that."

Mark Seifrid's 2 Corinthians Commentary

Eerdmans is offering a three-day sale on Mark Seifrid's brand new 2 Corinthians commentary. You get it at 40% off and free shipping to boot. You have to email Eerdmans directly at [email protected] with "3 Day Sale: The Pillar 2 Corinthians Commentary" in the subject line. The sale ends this Saturday, October 18.

New Bibliographic Resource for 1 and 2 Corinthians

See this post by David Pettegrew related to a bibliographic resource for 1-2 Corinthians using Zotero. This looks like a great resource for those working in and and with 1 and 2 Corinthians,

Witherington: A Week in the Life of Corinth

  

The nice folks at IVP Academic have sent me a copy of Ben Witherington III's latest book, A Week in the Life of Corinth. I have not read any of Witherington's fictional works, but this looks intriguing. According to the publisher, A Week in the Life of Corinth is about,"a fictitious Corinthian man named Nicanor through an eventful week of business dealings and conflict, you will encounter life at various levels of Roman society--eventually meeting Paul himself and gaining entrance into the Christian community there." The book also contains, "Numerous full-page text boxes expand on a variety of aspects of life and culture as we encounter them in the narrative."

  

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

  
John Byron has finally and definitively identified Paul's thorn in the flesh (2 Cor 12:7).