Paul's Second Letter to Corinth
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.
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.
Instructors
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,508 Reviews
- 123,435 Students
- 42 Courses
N.T Wright received his BA, MA and D.Phil. from Oxford University. He taught New Testament at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities 1978-1993. He was Dean of Lichfield, then Canon of Westminster, then Bishop of Durham (Church of England), 1994-2010. Prof. Wright is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and is currently Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He has published over 85 books and hundreds of articles. In 2014 Prof. Wright received the Burkitt Medal from the British Academy for services to New Testament scholarship. He enjoys music, golf the Isle of Harris, and spending time with his family in the midst of a busy schedule of writing and travelling.
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,614 Reviews
- 123,560 Students
- 43 Courses
David Seemuth has a Ph.D. from Marquette University in the field of Religious Studies with an emphasis on New Testament Theology. He has taught at the graduate level for over 30 years at numerous universities and seminaries. He also has 21 years of on-line teaching experience. His passion is to see that people not only understand the Scripture, but also apply them to daily life.
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,361 Reviews
- 122,427 Students
- 41 Courses
Jennifer Loop is currently a doctoral student at Durham University. She is the Director of Ministry Engagement for the Wisconsin Center for Christian Studies, and plays a critical role in the online education, both organizational and theological, by guiding the online student experience. Jennifer enjoys engaging with a virtual community of diverse students and learners to explore how theology, faith and practice intersect.