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 stand as vulnerable vessels entrusted with an invaluable divine treasure. We are delicate, prone to fracturing under pressure, and often outwardly unremarkable. Yet, it is precisely within this inherent limitation that God's light shines most brightly. As we celebrate Paul's multifaceted ministry and acknowledge its profound complexities, we recognize our own parallel journey of faith. We are called to embody God's love and justice in our lives, finding strength in our weakness and purpose in our surrender. The ultimate security of this treasure rests not in the strength of its earthen jar, but in the unwavering faithfulness of the God who placed it there. Empowered by this transformative grace, we become Christ's living letter and his compelling aroma, testifying to a world desperately needing this truth.
