(Part 1)

JBTM Book Reviews
114
“compositional hiatus,” during which the intensity of Corinthian opposition increased
(69). Toney cautions, however, “that their [the two letters] redaction also points to the
importance of reading them in their final form” (63). This is a prudent position, given both
the extreme differences in tone between these two sections of 2 Corinthians and the many
textual connections contained in the two major parts.
Martin formulates the Sitz im Leben of 2 Corinthians by depending heavily on the account
of Paul’s ministry in Acts, as well as Paul’s own words in his letter to the Galatians. He
maintains that Paul’s successful mission to the Gentiles resulted in increased pressure from
Jewish Christians for Gentile converts to be circumcised. Martin argues that the agreement
described in Acts 15 minimized the issue of circumcision, and was forged after Paul left the
conference. Paul’s insistence on a circumcision-free gospel led to his estrangement from
both Jerusalem and Antioch. Therefore, Paul’s theologia crucis and his corresponding selfdescription
as a suffering apostle, as formulated in 2 Corinthians, originated out of Paul’s
isolation from other leaders in the Christian movement, attacks on Paul’s authority from some
in Corinth, and Paul’s desire to set his ministry apart from that of other Jewish Christians.
Martin’s exegesis of the text follows the standard WBC series format. For each subsection
of the text, a bibliography is provided, followed by Martin’s translation of the text (including
notes which explain the choices concerning textual variants, etc.). Martin then discusses the
“Form/Structure/Setting” of the section, after which he presents a verse-by-verse exegesis
of the Greek text. Finally, Martin provides his understanding of the meaning of the section
under the heading “Explanation.”
If I were allowed one word to describe this commentary, I would choose the word
“thorough.” At more than 750 pages, one would be hard pressed to say anything more
about 2 Corinthians. As such, the commentary is an excellent reference work and can be
heartily recommended. One would, however, need to complement this volume with other
commentaries that are somewhat less detailed, and in which Paul’s arguments remain at the
forefront so that one is not in danger of getting lost in the forest of exegetical trees. One
might also consult contemporaries that scholarship on 2 Corinthians, and Pauline studies in
general. Even though Martin’s commentary has been revised, it is still heavily dependent on
pre-1980’s secondary sources.
- James R. McConnell, School of Divinity, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Adam, The Fall, and Original Sin: Theological, Biblical, and Scientific Perspectives. Edited
by Hans Madueme and Michael Reeves. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014. xii
+ 339 pages. Paperback, $26.99.
In Adam, The Fall, and Original Sin, Hans Madueme and Michael Reeves have assembled