Though few church squabbles today come close to matching the intensity and seriousness of what Paul faced in the commercial and hedonistic hotbed of Corinth, his strategies and pastoral wisdom in confronting the problems there can still serve as a helpful model for us in responding to a culture marked by individualism and materialism. In this careful study of 2 Corinthians, readers will find an introduction that discusses the letter's occasion and purpose, authorship, and other background information, as well as its important theological themes. Passage-by-passage commentary follows that seeks to explain what the letter means for us today as well as what it meant for its original hearers. Students, pastors, Bible teachers and everyone who wants to understand Paul's message for the church will benefit from this excellent resource. "Readable and understandable . . . A thorough, yet understandable explanation of the issues in the book . . . Contributes to an understanding of applications from 2 Corinthians, an often-neglected epistle." (Bibliotheca Sacra) Linda L. Belleville (Ph.D., University of Toronto) is adjunct professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. She is the author of 2 Corinthians in the IVP New Testament Commentary Series and a contributor to The IVP Women's Bible Commentary, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters and Discovering Biblical Equality .