Below is the last part of my forthcoming commentary: Treasures and Thorns: A Concise Critical Commentary on 2 Corinthians (Cascade, 2026).
The Paradox of Ministry
This book has sought to present Paul not as a remote, stained-glass icon frozen in piety, but as a complex human being navigating the treacherous landscape of first-century ministry. By situating his letters within the matrix of his life—the travel plans gone wrong, the sleepless nights, the public humiliations—we appreciate both the enduring value of his insights and the limitations of his historical context. He was a man bridging two worlds, Jewish and Greco-Roman, trying to articulate a revolutionary new reality in language that was often straining to contain it.
Ultimately, 2 Corinthians leaves us with a profound challenge that echoes through the centuries. It forces us to ask: What constitutes true success in the eyes of God? Is it the polish of the rhetorician or the scars of the servant?
Like Paul, we are flawed vessels carrying a divine treasure. We are breakable, prone to cracking under pressure, and often undistinguished in our outer appearance. Yet, it is precisely within this limitation that the light shines brightest. We celebrate Paul's ministry, acknowledging its complexity, and recognize that we, too, are on a journey. We are striving to embody the love and justice of God in our own lives, finding strength in our weakness, and willing to become the "aroma of Christ"—a fragrance of life to some and death to others—to a watching world. The treasure is safe, not because the jar is strong, but because the God who filled it is faithful.
