Paul's Second Letter to Corinth

Name: Paul's Second Letter to Corinth
Rating: 4.9 (115 reviews)

Explore Paul's theology of apostleship and 'weakness' and the significance for Christian life and ministry today

Created byN.T. Wright, David P. Seemuth, Jennifer Loop

Last updated 7/2022

English

What you'll learn

Students will learn about Paul's struggles and joys of apostleship and mission.
Examine how the early Church navigated first-century cultural influences and pressures.
Gain understanding of what 'apostleship' meant for Paul and the relationship to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Learn the Biblical meaning of boldness and strength.
Grasp the importance of humility and weakness for the Christian faith and life.

Course content

5 sections • 64 lectures • 6h 32m total length

Introduction to N.T. Wright Online2:37
Printable Biblical Text for the Course0:12
Prof. Wright's Translation, the Kingdom New Testament is given to you here. Simply look to the course outline on the right of your screen. Under the lecture 'Printable Biblical Text for the Course', click the 'Resource' icon to download the PDF file containing the KNT for this course. Please print it out so you have access to the text under study.
THE KINGDOM NEW TESTAMENT: A CONTEMPORARY TRANSLATION by N.T. WRIGHT. Copyright (c) 2011 by Nicholas Thomas Wright. Courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers. Used by permission.
2 Corinthians 1:1-11 KNT1:23
Reading of 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:00
2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Suffering and Comfort16:09
Comprehension Assessment: Session One
Practice Exercises #1: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions2:42

2 Corinthians 1:12-22 KNT1:21
Reading of 2 Corinthians 1:12-22 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:59
2 Corinthians 1:12-22; Yes and Amen16:31
Comprehension Assessment: Session Two
2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13 KNT1:38
Reading of 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:21
2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13; Joy and Grief15:02
Comprehension Assessment: Session Three
Practice Exercises #2: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions2:09

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6 KNT1:10
Reading of 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:53
2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6; The Fragrance of Apostleship18:03
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright4:56
Q: We have to regain the idea of ‘temple’—how does that work in 2 Corinthians?
Comprehension Assessment: Session Four
2 Corinthians 3:7-18 KNT1:19
Reading of 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:04
2 Corinthians 3:7-18; The Boldness of Apostleship18:22
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright3:42
Dr. David Seemuth asks Prof. Wright about the tendency towards stratification and the idea that we are now imaging God to one another.
Comprehension Assessment: Session Five
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 KNT0:45
Reading of 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:17
2 Corinthians 4:1-6; The Heart-Shining Light of Apostleship13:18
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright2:02
Dr. David Seemuth discusses with Prof. Wright this 'new creation' expectation.
Comprehension Assessment: Session Six
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 KNT1:17
Reading of 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:02
2 Corinthians 4:7-18; The Suffering of Apostleship16:51
Comprehension Assessment: Session Seven
2 Corinthians 5:1-13 KNT1:24
Reading of 2 Corinthians 5:1-13 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:01
2 Corinthians 5:1-13; The Resurrection and Apostleship18:06
Comprehension Assessment: Session Eight
2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2 KNT1:11
Reading of 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:00
2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2; God's Covenant Faithfulness and Apostleship19:14
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright6:21
Q: The Apostle Paul says, From now on we do not consider anyone from a worldly (fleshly) point of view. How can we incorporate that?
Q: To what extent can the idea of being ‘God’s covenant faithfulness’ be extended to the Corinthian believer?
Comprehension Assessment: Session Nine
2 Corinthians 6:3-13, 7:2-4 KNT1:06
Reading of 2 Corinthians 6:3-13, 7:2-4 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:56
2 Corinthians 6:3-13, 7:2-4; The Cross and Apostleship12:11
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright5:15
Dr. David Seemuth asks Prof. Wright to expand the idea of the Apostle Paul seeing himself as a ‘servant’ figure.
Comprehension Assessment: Session Ten
Practice Exercises #3: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions2:51

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 KNT0:44
Reading of 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:18
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Rupture and Renewal14:21
Comprehension Assessment: Session Eleven
2 Corinthians 7:5-16 KNT1:36
Reading of 2 Corinthians 7:5-16 by Prof. N.T. Wright2:28
2 Corinthians 7:5-16; Sadness and Joy11:36
Comprehension Assessment: Session Twelve
2 Corinthians 8 & 9 KNT4:37
Reading of 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 by Prof. N.T. Wright6:26
2 Corinthians 8 & 9; Giving and Receiving18:31
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright8:46
Dr. David Seemuth ask Prof. Wright about the complexities of receiving or refusing gifts in the Roman world.
Comprehension Assessment: Session Thirteen
Practice Exercises #4: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions2:13

2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15 KNT3:55
Reading of 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15 by Prof. N.T. Wright5:22
2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15; Strength as Boasting in Weakness17:13
Comprehension Assessment: Session Fourteen
2 Corinthians 11:16-12:13 KNT3:24
Reading of 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:13 by Prof. N.T. Wright4:51
2 Corinthians 11:16-12:13; Strength as Weakness19:25
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright6:47
Comprehension Assessment: Session Fifteen
2 Corinthians 12:14-13:13 KNT2:48
Reading of 2 Corinthians 12:14-13:13 by Prof. N.T. Wright3:50
2 Corinthians 12:14- 13:13; Strength as Truthfulness16:49
Q&A with Prof. N.T. Wright4:08
Q: How do you think that the Apostle Paul would have seen self-designated apostles?
Comprehension Assessment: Session Sixteen
Practice Exercises #5: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions2:27
Bonus Lecture0:31

Requirements

Completion of Paul’s First Letter to Corinth: Parts One and Two are encouraged, but not necessary
Current translation of the Bible
Curiosity about how Scripture is relevant for faith, ministry, and life in today's world.

Description

The Apostle Paul writes a passionate letter that sheds light on the difficulties he experienced in his relationship with the Corinthian church. Prof. Wright teaches how Paul dealt pastorally with misunderstandings and assumptions that he longs to correct. Writing from a distance after his painful visit to Corinth, Paul addresses challenges to his apostleship and ministry with boldness and Godly sincerity. In this second letter, you will see how practical issues of ministry and mission caused times of darkness for Paul. Yet, out of these struggles comes a fresh beam of light from the God who raises the dead. Down the ages, the Church has benefited from the Apostle’s ‘theology of weakness’ and his vision of God’s strength and sufficiency through it all.

This is a timely and relevant course for followers of Jesus in today’s world to examine what is going on in terms of the larger Biblical story of God’s unbreakable love for his people. You will learn about God’s purposes to establish the Church as a Messiah shaped family in which people live together with rebuke and forgiveness, grief and joy, and suffering and comfort. Prof. Wright will connect Paul’s vision of apostleship to Jesus’ death and resurrection, which will help you recognize when and how God is at work in your own life and the world.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in examining the practical issues the Apostle Paul faced, including pastoring from a distance with boldness and sincerity.
Those who wish to explore the challenges and joys of church planting and mission, or handling misunderstandings in the church while maintaining unity and holiness.
Clergy looking to be inspired and encouraged by examining Scripture, or as a resource for preaching, teaching, and other work in the church.

Paul's Second Letter to Corinth

What you'll learn

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Course content

The Reason for Paul's Distress6 lectures • 25min

The Reason for Paul's Changed Plans7 lectures • 41min

What it Means to Be an Apostle27 lectures • 2hr 43min

What it Means to Boast in the Lord11 lectures • 1hr 13min

What it Means to Be Strong in the Lord13 lectures • 1hr 32min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: