This is a tentative book cover
Treasures and Thorns: A Concise Critical Commentary on 2 Corinthians
Yung Suk Kim (Cascade, 2026 forthcoming)
Treasures and Thorns offers a rigorous yet accessible examination of the Corinthian correspondence. Viewing the text as a dynamic composite collection, this volume contextualizes Paul’s evolving engagement with a fragile community. The commentary structures its analysis through the dialectic of "Treasures" (theological riches, apostolic authority) and "Thorns" (suffering, rhetorical complexity, and historical conflict). By synthesizing careful exegesis with the socio-historical realities of early Christian leadership, Treasures and Thorns illuminates how Paul’s theology was forged in crisis. It provides scholars, pastors, and students with a nuanced lens for understanding the interplay between divine power and human limitation in Pauline ministry.
FOR THE BOOK COVER
The Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is a battlefield of theology and emotion. It is a text marked by soaring spiritual heights and raw human vulnerability, where the “treasure in jars of clay” meets the painful “thorn in the flesh.” This commentary offers a clear and accessible guide to navigating this complex epistle, structuring its analysis through the dialectic of "Treasures" (theological riches and apostolic authority) and "Thorns" (suffering, rhetorical complexity, and historical conflict).
Designed for scholars, pastors, and students alike, this volume:
- Clarifies Paul's Theology: Explores the evolving nature of Paul’s leadership and the composite nature of the letters.
- Embraces the Paradox: Refuses to sanitize the text, grappling with the “hard sayings” and historical messiness alongside the comforting theological truths.
- Connects to Today: Bridges the gap between the fragile Corinthian community and the contemporary challenges facing the modern church.
ONLINE MARKETING PURPOSE
To read 2 Corinthians is to witness a desperate fight for the soul of a church.
The Corinthian correspondence offers a jarring glimpse into the chaos of early Christianity. It reveals an Apostle pushed to his limits, navigating betrayal, division, and his own physical frailty. Treasures and Thorns invites you to step into this tension—to witness a Paul who is both a soaring theologian and a vulnerable pastor.
Central to this commentary is the dual reality that defines the Christian experience: Treasures and Thorns.
We cannot have one without the other. To understand Paul, we must search for the Treasures—the enduring riches of God’s comfort and the new creation. But we must also grasp the Thorns—the critical problems, the uncomfortable rhetoric, and the suffering God refuses to remove.
Combining careful exegesis with deep pastoral insight, this book is more than a commentary; it is a lens into the heart of ministry. It offers a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand how the power of God operates perfectly within human weakness.
The Corinthian correspondence offers a jarring glimpse into the chaos of early Christianity. It reveals an Apostle pushed to his limits, navigating betrayal, division, and his own physical frailty. Treasures and Thorns invites you to step into this tension—to witness a Paul who is both a soaring theologian and a vulnerable pastor.
Central to this commentary is the dual reality that defines the Christian experience: Treasures and Thorns.
We cannot have one without the other. To understand Paul, we must search for the Treasures—the enduring riches of God’s comfort and the new creation. But we must also grasp the Thorns—the critical problems, the uncomfortable rhetoric, and the suffering God refuses to remove.
Combining careful exegesis with deep pastoral insight, this book is more than a commentary; it is a lens into the heart of ministry. It offers a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand how the power of God operates perfectly within human weakness.
BEST FOR PASTORS AND EDUCATORS
A Concise Guide to the Most Personal of Paul’s Letters
2 Corinthians is often viewed as a difficult, fragmented collection of texts—a mix of deep theology and intense personal defense. For pastors, students, and educators, navigating the shift between Paul’s "treasure in jars of clay" and his "thorn in the flesh" can be daunting.
Treasures and Thorns provides the roadmap you need.
This critical commentary cuts through the complexity to offer a cohesive understanding of 2 Corinthians. It treats the text not just as a theological treatise, but as a dynamic engagement between a pastor and a troubled community.
Key Features:
2 Corinthians is often viewed as a difficult, fragmented collection of texts—a mix of deep theology and intense personal defense. For pastors, students, and educators, navigating the shift between Paul’s "treasure in jars of clay" and his "thorn in the flesh" can be daunting.
Treasures and Thorns provides the roadmap you need.
This critical commentary cuts through the complexity to offer a cohesive understanding of 2 Corinthians. It treats the text not just as a theological treatise, but as a dynamic engagement between a pastor and a troubled community.
Key Features:
- Structured Analysis: Systematically divides the text into theological "Treasures" and critical "Thorns."
- Contextual Clarity: Examines the letter as a composite collection, offering a clearer view of Paul's evolving relationship with Corinth.
- Practical Application: Moves beyond history to show how Paul’s struggles with authority and weakness speak directly to leadership and society today.
