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Strength in weakness

2 Corinthians simply explained

Simple and helpful

STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS
2 Corinthians simply explained
By J. Philip Arthur
Evangelical Press. 256 pages. £8.95
ISBN 0 85234 572 0

2 Corinthians, with its stirring description of the glory of the New Covenant, is such an important message to Christians in this pluralistic age. Plus Phil Arthur is a highly respected preacher of the Scriptures, whose ministry in Lancaster over the past 15 years has touched quite a few lives.

So I started reading this book eagerly the day it arrived. As Phil Arthur expounded on the balance of trouble and comfort in the Christian experience it was very helpful. In the following chapters, which were all based on his Sunday evening sermons from 1997, the author touched on loads of helpful subjects, including evangelism, leadership, repentance and church discipline.

Generally each ‘sermon’ is ten pages long and covers half of one of the chapters of 2 Corinthians. The passage is explained line by line and then at the end there is some application to the readers. The front cover says that this is 2 Corinthians Simply Explained, consequently subjects like tithing were mentioned only briefly, when it would have been so helpful to deal with the subject a bit more thoroughly — even if only in a footnote.

My other concern was the almost total lack of any mention of the Lord Jesus Christ in some chapters. I know Phil Arthur wouldn't have been able to preach without continually pointing us to our King and Saviour; so why edit those bits out and leave the readers saying, ‘Sir ... we would like to see Jesus’?

Chris Kelly,
Lansdowne Baptist Church, Bournemouth