2 Corinthians

Thrall’s two-volume ICC commentary is one of the outstanding monuments of critical exegesis on 2 Corinthians. Its particular strength is disciplined judgment: competing interpretations and historical reconstructions are examined carefully, evidence is distinguished from inference, and difficult exegetical questions are rarely resolved more confidently than the data permit. Her work on Paul’s opponents, apostolic weakness, suffering and the controversial passages in chapters 10–13 is especially valuable. The principal weakness is her willingness to entertain complex partition theories that are considerably less convincing than her local exegesis. Nevertheless, when one wants to know what the evidence actually permits at a difficult point in the letter, Thrall remains one of the safest guides available.

Like many scholars, Thrall argues that 2 Corinthians is a composite of 3 Pauline letters. This two-volume set is very detailed; she leaves no exegetical issue untouched. It would be difficult to utilize her work for a panoramic perspective on the whole letter—it serves better as a reference guide to debates on certain verses or words. [Full Review]

 

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