Welcome to 2 Corinthians.
This weekend, we welcomed Heather Gorman from Abilene Christian University’s Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry, who led us in a deep dive into 2 Corinthians and Paul’s powerful message about the ministry of reconciliation.
We saw that 2 Corinthians was written amid tension, grief, and misunderstanding between Paul and the believers he loved. Yet, instead of abandoning them, Paul calls the church—and every follower of Jesus—into God’s ongoing work of setting things right in the world.
Paul reminds us that all Christians are ministers, entrusted with God’s reconciling mission: restoring right relationships with God, with one another, and with creation. This ministry often involves both suffering and comfort, hardship and hope, but it is sustained by God’s Spirit and the strength of community. Paul’s call to generosity, unity, and care for the poor reflects that reconciliation is not just spiritual—it’s tangible, lived out through compassion, justice, and openhanded love.
Ultimately, 2 Corinthians invites us to join God in His redemptive work—to be people who heal, restore, and bring peace wherever brokenness remains.
Getting Started
This page will provide you with a variety of resources to understand this ancient text, starting with a 10,000 foot view and going all the way into studying key words and themes.
Start at the top and work your way down through the resources to go deeper in study.
These videos will help you understand key themes and the meta-narrative of 2 Corinthians.
NLT Study Bible
Don’t have a good study Bible? The NLT Study Bible translates both the words and the world of the Bible. The New Living Translation makes the message clear. The features of the NLT Study Bible bring the world of the Bible to life so that the meaning and significance of its message shine through.
Reading Plan
Ready to read? Here is our suggested reading plan for this book. Read at your own pace and don’t feel pressured to keep up with the suggested daily instructions.
For Families
The Bible Story Handbook
This handbook of 175 Bible stories is designed to assist teachers and parents in knowing what each story teaches and how to present it in a God-centered way.
Diving In
Making use of his scholar’s understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright helps us to understand from the beginning of the second letter to the Corinthians that something unexplained yet terrible has happened. We feel the pain of Paul from the very opening lines as he confronts dreadful issues of sorrow and hurt, emerging with a clearer picture of what it meant to say that Jesus himself suffered for us and rose up in triumph. The letter itself moves through tragedy and from there leads into the sunlight.
NIV Application Commentary: 2 Corinthians
The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today’’ context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today’s world, each passage is treated in three sections:
- Original Meaning
- Bridging Contexts
- Contemporary Significance