What do you think?
Rate this book
The New International Commentary on the New Testament
Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians
Begun in the late 1940s by an international team of scholars, the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) series has become recognized by pastors, students, and scholars alike as a critical yet orthodox commentary marked by solid biblical scholarship within the evangelical Protestant tradition. While based on a thorough study of the Greek text, the commentary introductions and expositions contain a minimum of Greek references. The NICNT authors evaluate significant textual problems and take into account the most important exegetical literature. More technical aspects -- such as grammatical, textual, and historical problems -- are dealt with in footnotes, special notes, and appendixes.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
About the author
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes
50 books5 followersPhilip Edgcumbe Hughes (Sydney, Australia, 1915 – Rydal, PA, USA, 1990) was an Anglican clergyman and New Testament scholar whose life spanned four continents: Australia, where he was born; South Africa; England, where he was ordained; and the USA, where he died in 1990, aged 75.
Dr. Hughes was born in Australia and received his B.A., M.A., and D.L.H. from the University of Cape Town, B.D. from the University of London, and Th.D. from the Australian College of Theology. From 1947 to 1953 Hughes taught at Tyndale Hall in England. From 1953 to 1956 he was Secretary of Church Society; and from 1959 to 1967 editor of Church Society’s journal, The Churchman. From 1964 to 1968 he taught at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. From 1964 he moved to the United States to teach at American seminaries, including Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, and Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA.
Dr. Hughes was born in Australia and received his B.A., M.A., and D.L.H. from the University of Cape Town, B.D. from the University of London, and Th.D. from the Australian College of Theology. From 1947 to 1953 Hughes taught at Tyndale Hall in England. From 1953 to 1956 he was Secretary of Church Society; and from 1959 to 1967 editor of Church Society’s journal, The Churchman. From 1964 to 1968 he taught at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. From 1964 he moved to the United States to teach at American seminaries, including Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, and Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 1, 2024
AN ANGLICAN CLERGYMAN AND NT SCHOLAR LOOKS AT THIS “PROBLEMATIC” CHURCH
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes (1915-1990) was an Australian-born Anglican clergyman and New Testament scholar, who taught at Columbia Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Trinity School for Ministry.
He admits in this 1962 book, “Biographical information concerning Paul’s movements and actions is so incomplete, and the gaps in our knowledge are so considerable, that it is impossible to establish with any real certainty the sequence of his associations with the Corinthian Church, whether by personal visit or letter. Every attempt at reconstruction must inevitably be conjectural---a consideration which in itself is sufficient to explain the wide divergence of opinion amongst those who have tried to work out a chronology of Paul’s life.” (Pg. 31)
He notes, “When Paul declares [2:1] that he had determined not to come again to the Corinthians in sorrow the plain inference is that there had been a previous occasion on which a visit to Corinth had caused him sorrow. This being so, he cannot be referring to his original visit during which the church at Corinth was founded, but to some later visit when the state of affairs found by him in the church already in existence there had grieved his heart. This in turn implies that there must have been at least two visits to that city prior to the writing of this present epistle.
"That there had been in fact been just two such visits---that is, the original visit and a subsequent one---is evident from what we read in 12:14 13:1f. Luke’s silence in Acts concerning a second visit prior to the writing of II Corinthians should not be taken as being in conflict with or as demanding some other, less natural, interpretation of what Paul says here, for his annals are highly selective, with the result that many things are omitted by him, presumably because he considered them not relevant to the purpose and scheme of this treatise…” (Pg.. 51)
He comments on 5:13, “Paul’s preaching of the gospel is at all times thoughtful, intelligible, balanced, directed to the mind as well as to the heart, and entirely free from any suggestion of ‘mania’ or ‘ecstasy.’ Yet, though his evangelism is marked by sobriety, he does not here reject the charge of ‘ecstasy’; and this would suggest that there was indeed another side to the Apostle which his opponents seized on in order to insinuate that there existed a contradiction in his personality---that his was a Jekyll-and-Hyde character. The hypothesis that this charge of mental aberration (if such it was) was connected with the epilepsy to which some have supposed the ‘thorn in the flesh’ of 12:7 to refer is in our opinion quite unacceptable.” (Pg. 191)
He observes about 5:16, “Among the factions in the Corinthian church there was a ‘Christ’ party, led, presumably, by some who claimed to have known Christ during the period of His earthy ministry and who prided themselves on this as though it constituted a right to superior status in the Christian Church… it may well be that the leaders of this particular faction were the Christians in Corinth and that they had alleged Paul’s failure to follow Christ during His earthly ministry as a ground for challenging his apostolic authority. Their attitude, however, was that of men who glory in what is merely outward and superficial, and, for Paul, their claim was, in itself, not only beside the point, but quite valueless.” (Pg. 200)
He points out that “Of the three occasions on which he was beaten with rods, that is, by Gentile magistrates, only one is recorded in the book of Acts. This was at Philippi, when many stripes were laid upon Paul and Silas Acts 16:22f). The other two receive no mention elsewhere. [Sir William] Ramsay expresses the opinion [in ''St. Paul the Traveller'] that ‘it is probable that the persecution which is mentioned in Antioch, and hinted at in Lystra, included beating by lictors’ (i.e., Acts 13:50, 14:19). But it is difficult to justify the description of such a conjecture as ‘probable.’ Paul, of course, was a Roman citizen and as such was technically protected by law against such floggings (cf. Acts 16:37f., 22:25ff.). His reference in I Thess 2:2 to having been ‘shamefully treated’ at Phillipi almost certainly concerns the beating with rods administered to him, a Roman citizen, in that city by order of the magistrates (Acts 16:22f.).” (Pg. 410)
This is a solidly conservative commentary, that will be of help to those studying this letter of Paul.
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes (1915-1990) was an Australian-born Anglican clergyman and New Testament scholar, who taught at Columbia Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Trinity School for Ministry.
He admits in this 1962 book, “Biographical information concerning Paul’s movements and actions is so incomplete, and the gaps in our knowledge are so considerable, that it is impossible to establish with any real certainty the sequence of his associations with the Corinthian Church, whether by personal visit or letter. Every attempt at reconstruction must inevitably be conjectural---a consideration which in itself is sufficient to explain the wide divergence of opinion amongst those who have tried to work out a chronology of Paul’s life.” (Pg. 31)
He notes, “When Paul declares [2:1] that he had determined not to come again to the Corinthians in sorrow the plain inference is that there had been a previous occasion on which a visit to Corinth had caused him sorrow. This being so, he cannot be referring to his original visit during which the church at Corinth was founded, but to some later visit when the state of affairs found by him in the church already in existence there had grieved his heart. This in turn implies that there must have been at least two visits to that city prior to the writing of this present epistle.
"That there had been in fact been just two such visits---that is, the original visit and a subsequent one---is evident from what we read in 12:14 13:1f. Luke’s silence in Acts concerning a second visit prior to the writing of II Corinthians should not be taken as being in conflict with or as demanding some other, less natural, interpretation of what Paul says here, for his annals are highly selective, with the result that many things are omitted by him, presumably because he considered them not relevant to the purpose and scheme of this treatise…” (Pg.. 51)
He comments on 5:13, “Paul’s preaching of the gospel is at all times thoughtful, intelligible, balanced, directed to the mind as well as to the heart, and entirely free from any suggestion of ‘mania’ or ‘ecstasy.’ Yet, though his evangelism is marked by sobriety, he does not here reject the charge of ‘ecstasy’; and this would suggest that there was indeed another side to the Apostle which his opponents seized on in order to insinuate that there existed a contradiction in his personality---that his was a Jekyll-and-Hyde character. The hypothesis that this charge of mental aberration (if such it was) was connected with the epilepsy to which some have supposed the ‘thorn in the flesh’ of 12:7 to refer is in our opinion quite unacceptable.” (Pg. 191)
He observes about 5:16, “Among the factions in the Corinthian church there was a ‘Christ’ party, led, presumably, by some who claimed to have known Christ during the period of His earthy ministry and who prided themselves on this as though it constituted a right to superior status in the Christian Church… it may well be that the leaders of this particular faction were the Christians in Corinth and that they had alleged Paul’s failure to follow Christ during His earthly ministry as a ground for challenging his apostolic authority. Their attitude, however, was that of men who glory in what is merely outward and superficial, and, for Paul, their claim was, in itself, not only beside the point, but quite valueless.” (Pg. 200)
He points out that “Of the three occasions on which he was beaten with rods, that is, by Gentile magistrates, only one is recorded in the book of Acts. This was at Philippi, when many stripes were laid upon Paul and Silas Acts 16:22f). The other two receive no mention elsewhere. [Sir William] Ramsay expresses the opinion [in ''St. Paul the Traveller'] that ‘it is probable that the persecution which is mentioned in Antioch, and hinted at in Lystra, included beating by lictors’ (i.e., Acts 13:50, 14:19). But it is difficult to justify the description of such a conjecture as ‘probable.’ Paul, of course, was a Roman citizen and as such was technically protected by law against such floggings (cf. Acts 16:37f., 22:25ff.). His reference in I Thess 2:2 to having been ‘shamefully treated’ at Phillipi almost certainly concerns the beating with rods administered to him, a Roman citizen, in that city by order of the magistrates (Acts 16:22f.).” (Pg. 410)
This is a solidly conservative commentary, that will be of help to those studying this letter of Paul.
August 11, 2020
Excellent insights, emphasizing Paul's honoring of Christ and the gospel in opposition to those who were undermining his authority and message in Corinth. Hughes ably defends the unity of the book and the flow of argument throughout.
August 27, 2009
This will seem unusual to many, but I read Hughes commentary on 2 Cor from start to finish in 1984. Wow, what an encouragement and blessing it was in my understanding of 2 Cor. As I open it along with several others for a series on 2 Cor, I feel like I am spending time with an old friend.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews