A Model of Christian Maturity: An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 10-13 - Softcover

We live in a time when leadership and showmanship are seen as far greater virtues than humility and meekness. Even the church has often got it backward. And in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, he confronts similar problems in the first century church. D. A. Carson believes we can learn valuable lessons from Paul's letter about what it really means to be a mature Christian in the face of adversity. In A Model of Christian Maturity he takes the reader step by step through an exposition of 2 Corinthians 1013 and then helps them apply these Scriptures to everyday life in the church. Perfect for pastors, students, and lay people, this book highlights the power of weakness in the life of the Christian.

How do some of the apostle Paul's most passionate words help us to understand our lives as Christians today?

According to Bible scholar D. A. Carson, 2 Corinthians 10-13 most clearly reveals Paul's heart and mind. It contains well-known passages, such as Paul's description of his thorn in the flesh and an intense chronicle of his specific sufferings. This section of Scripture also models Paul's style of spiritual leadership and warns of false leadership in the church, something of crucial importance to anyone with an influential role in the body of believers.

Carson unpacks Paul's call for us to embrace discipline and obedience, and his thoughts on the nature of spiritual boasting. Through Paul we explore the struggles, opportunities, and intentions of a Christian under fire, journeying with him as he seeks to guide the Corinthian church and speak to us as well.

D. A. Carson (Ph.D., Cambridge University) is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has served as a pastor and is the author or editor of more than forty-five books.