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God's Word for You
2 Corinthians For You: For reading, for feeding, for leading
In 2 Corinthians For You, Garry Millar walks readers through the hard truths that Paul sets out in this deeply personal letter. It reveals Paul’s heart for Christ’s wayward "children"—one filled with the true love of Christ. As with the whole series, this expository guide gives careful attention to the text and its meaning, and is a vital resource for preachers and teachers as well as nourishing spiritual food for any Christian. It can be read as a devotional, used for leading small group studies or used for sermon preparation.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2020
28 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
J. Gary Millar
19 books18 followersGary has been the Principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia since the start of 2012. After studying chemistry in his home city of Belfast, Gary moved to Aberdeen in Scotland to study theology, before completing a D.Phil at Oxford on Deuteronomy. Gary worked as a pastor for the next 17 years in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and was involved in both church revitalization and church planting, before moving to Brisbane to lead the team at QTC.
Gary travels widely throughout Australia and beyond, seeking to encourage local churches. He is also the co-founder and Chair of The Gospel Coalition Australia.
Gary travels widely throughout Australia and beyond, seeking to encourage local churches. He is also the co-founder and Chair of The Gospel Coalition Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 4, 2022
One of the best I’ve read in this series. Really clear and faithful handling of the text, easy to read and particularly helpful challenges and questions along the way! Bit on chapter 4 was gold 👌🏼
April 28, 2025
A great book and resource on 2 Corinthians. Millar is quite clearly a pastor in how he thinks, writes and calls you to act and feel. He teaches and draws from 2 Corinthians really well, illustrates his points clearly and effectively, but also leaves room for this resource to be a resource—a guide and tool for the bible, not the bible; a path to understand, but not the answer.
I have little criticism. I wish there were more depth and critical argument, but I feel that is the series, not the author; I think the intended audience guides much of that. Therefore, this is not really a critique.
I have little criticism. I wish there were more depth and critical argument, but I feel that is the series, not the author; I think the intended audience guides much of that. Therefore, this is not really a critique.
February 28, 2024
It's OK. Certainly not a "must have" when preaching through 2 Corinthians. It's far from useless. But if you are limited on time and what you can read, this one isn't at the top of the list.
December 8, 2024
The Corinthian church was one of the messiest ever known. Factions divided over favorite preachers. Their church dinners became feasts for the well-off members, while the poor ones were left out. Some were involved in such blatant sin as a man sleeping with his mother-in-law. Their culture honored eloquence in public speaking and scorned Paul because he didn’t speak or write that way. They rejected his authority as an apostle.
Most of us would avoid a church like that. But God hadn’t given up on them. He inspired Paul to lovingly rebuke, plead with, teach, and encourage them toward a right relationship with God, each other, and himself.
2 Corinthians is actually the fourth letter Paul wrote to the church. 1 Corinthians was the second. We don’t have the first and third, but Paul refers to them. Between the second and third letter, Paul made a “painful visit” to them to try to set things right and sent some of his coworkers to them as well. His care was evident: he didn’t just dash off a rebuke and leave it at that.
Gary Millar guides us through Paul’s letter in 2 Corinthians for You. He takes an expository approach, covering anywhere from a few verses to a chapter and a half from 2 Corinthians in each of his chapters. He explains the culture of Corinth at that time, a Grecian city with heavy Roman influence and a large number of Jewish exiles. He puts the pieces together from 1 Corinthians and Acts to help us understand this letter of Paul’s better.
Though he gives us a lot of helpful information, his style is easy to read and not academic. He does an excellent job pulling out application from the Corinthians and Paul to our lives hundreds of years after 2 Corinthians was written.
One of the themes throughout the book is weakness. The Corinthians thought Paul was weak, and he said, in effect, “That’s right.” He refers to his weakness thirteen times in this letter. One reference is the famous passage many of us lean on in 12:9-10, where, after praying three times for God to remove whatever his “thorn in the flesh” was, Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paul repeatedly points out to the Corinthians that the church is God’s, to be conducted the way He wants. And ministry is done for Him and through His power.
Throughout both letters, Paul demonstrates Christian love, which mourns over sin, rebukes when needed, pursues even those who think we’re enemies, and gives of itself. One of many verses that stood out to me was “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15). At times I have felt utterly spent after ministering in some way, and this verse reminds me, yes, it’s supposed to feel that way. As God pours into us, we give out to others.
I have many places underlined and noted in Millar’s book, but here are a few quotes that stood out to me.
There were a couple of minor points where I disagreed with Millar, but overall, I thought this book was a great companion and aid in getting the most out of 2 Corinthians.
Most of us would avoid a church like that. But God hadn’t given up on them. He inspired Paul to lovingly rebuke, plead with, teach, and encourage them toward a right relationship with God, each other, and himself.
2 Corinthians is actually the fourth letter Paul wrote to the church. 1 Corinthians was the second. We don’t have the first and third, but Paul refers to them. Between the second and third letter, Paul made a “painful visit” to them to try to set things right and sent some of his coworkers to them as well. His care was evident: he didn’t just dash off a rebuke and leave it at that.
Gary Millar guides us through Paul’s letter in 2 Corinthians for You. He takes an expository approach, covering anywhere from a few verses to a chapter and a half from 2 Corinthians in each of his chapters. He explains the culture of Corinth at that time, a Grecian city with heavy Roman influence and a large number of Jewish exiles. He puts the pieces together from 1 Corinthians and Acts to help us understand this letter of Paul’s better.
Though he gives us a lot of helpful information, his style is easy to read and not academic. He does an excellent job pulling out application from the Corinthians and Paul to our lives hundreds of years after 2 Corinthians was written.
One of the themes throughout the book is weakness. The Corinthians thought Paul was weak, and he said, in effect, “That’s right.” He refers to his weakness thirteen times in this letter. One reference is the famous passage many of us lean on in 12:9-10, where, after praying three times for God to remove whatever his “thorn in the flesh” was, Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paul repeatedly points out to the Corinthians that the church is God’s, to be conducted the way He wants. And ministry is done for Him and through His power.
Throughout both letters, Paul demonstrates Christian love, which mourns over sin, rebukes when needed, pursues even those who think we’re enemies, and gives of itself. One of many verses that stood out to me was “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15). At times I have felt utterly spent after ministering in some way, and this verse reminds me, yes, it’s supposed to feel that way. As God pours into us, we give out to others.
I have many places underlined and noted in Millar’s book, but here are a few quotes that stood out to me.
When the gospel is our absolute priority, we will be predictably, reliably faithful to the gospel, even if it means that our plans may change when the progress of the gospel demands it. And how can we pull that off? Once again, it’s because God hasn’t simply told us to be like Christ, he has intervened in our lives powerfully and dramatically to enable us to be like Christ (p. 35).
When Christ is preached, God works by the Spirit to show people how stunningly, gloriously beautiful Christ is. We should keep going because the ministry which God has given us reveals the glory of God in the face of Christ, and there is no greater beauty, no greater privilege, no greater experience for human beings than this (p. 57).
A basic step in a lifetime of gospel ministry is to get over ourselves, to realise that ultimately whether people like us or not doesn’t really matter. Whether we’re perceived as successful or not doesn’t matter. Whether we’re recognised or not doesn’t matter. All that matters is preaching Christ as Lord. We keep going because it’s about him, not us (p. 67).
Ministry that isn’t borne out of love for people will be miserable for you and miserable for the people you are supposedly serving! (p. 114).
Investing in people is costly and time-consuming. The hardest this about ministry is always people. It doesn’t matter how extrovert or introvert you may be, it doesn’t matter how much you like the person or you struggle with them. Investing in people always drains energy and sucks up time. But remember—people don’t take you away from your ministry; they are your ministry (p. 115).
We must do everything in our power to remember that we never get past needing God to work in us (and through us) by his grace (p. 146).
Every time we look at another person and measure ourselves against them—we are throwing the door wide open to pride (if we can find a way to score ourselves higher than them) or its twin sister, self-pity (if we can’t). Every time we compare, we throw living by grace through faith out the window and start to run with a gospel of good works. Every time we compare, we swap living to please God with living to please ourselves, under the guise of impressing other people—and it stinks! (p. 151).
Let me challenge you right now to set yourself to hold onto the truth, and to ask God to give you a highly sensitive theological radar for the sake of the church in years to come. Be ready to think through the implications of every new idea, and be ready to fight for the truth . . . don’t swap the truth for lies (p. 160).
Real ministry is always accountable to God, saturated in and motivated by Christ himself, and has the clear aim of building up the church. Everything Paul did was done with the clear purpose of building up the Corinthians (p. 178).
There were a couple of minor points where I disagreed with Millar, but overall, I thought this book was a great companion and aid in getting the most out of 2 Corinthians.
May 26, 2020
Due to COVID-19, church ministry might have become a bit harder for some. Marriages are hurting, church programs are crumbling, and we are seeing our sins in ways we might not have had to confront before. In 2 Corinthians For You, Gary Millar shows us what gospel ministry to messy people is all about.
God’s Word For You
God’s Word For You is a series of books by The Good Book Company that seeks to take you to the heart of a book of the Bible and apply its truth to your heart. They attempt to be Bible-centered, Christ-glorifying, relevantly applied, and easily readable. I found this to be especially true of 2 Corinthians For You.
This volume was written by Gary Millar. He is the Principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia. He teaches Old Testament, Biblical Theology and Preaching. He was a pastor for 17 years, and these roles make him the perfect fit as the author of this book, since he combines his Biblical wisdom with practical experience.
Guide
In less than 200 pages, Millar gives us a guided tour of the book of 2 Corinthians. We see how we can be bold in speaking the gospel, we see a passionate Paul reveal the reality of gospel ministry, and we see the steps to genuine Christian joy even in the midst of real suffering.
As is fitting for our current situation, I was reminded that we should not lose hope, that we can give in gospel service with complete integrity, and we can put our confidence in Christ by boasting in our weaknesses and pursuing genuine love.
Resource
What I appreciate most about this book series is the number of resources it has to offer. While it acts as a commentary, it can also be read as a devotional. Each section concludes with questions for reflection. These are usually personal application questions that are perfect for a small group study or Sunday School class.
There is a glossary at the back of the book with words that are specifically related to the book of 2 Corinthians. These words include carnal, charismatic, doctrine, and edification.
Practical Points
What stands out to me about this volume is Millar’s clear and concise writing style. He often boils down his points into practical steps to take. Whether it is loving God or loving others, Millar helps us see how we can do it better. The church in Corinth was a spiritual battlefield. Christians today can learn from it as a training ground for our own gospel ministry. This is what the world needs now.
I received a media copy of 2 Corinthians For You, and this is my honest review.
God’s Word For You
God’s Word For You is a series of books by The Good Book Company that seeks to take you to the heart of a book of the Bible and apply its truth to your heart. They attempt to be Bible-centered, Christ-glorifying, relevantly applied, and easily readable. I found this to be especially true of 2 Corinthians For You.
This volume was written by Gary Millar. He is the Principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia. He teaches Old Testament, Biblical Theology and Preaching. He was a pastor for 17 years, and these roles make him the perfect fit as the author of this book, since he combines his Biblical wisdom with practical experience.
Guide
In less than 200 pages, Millar gives us a guided tour of the book of 2 Corinthians. We see how we can be bold in speaking the gospel, we see a passionate Paul reveal the reality of gospel ministry, and we see the steps to genuine Christian joy even in the midst of real suffering.
As is fitting for our current situation, I was reminded that we should not lose hope, that we can give in gospel service with complete integrity, and we can put our confidence in Christ by boasting in our weaknesses and pursuing genuine love.
Resource
What I appreciate most about this book series is the number of resources it has to offer. While it acts as a commentary, it can also be read as a devotional. Each section concludes with questions for reflection. These are usually personal application questions that are perfect for a small group study or Sunday School class.
There is a glossary at the back of the book with words that are specifically related to the book of 2 Corinthians. These words include carnal, charismatic, doctrine, and edification.
Practical Points
What stands out to me about this volume is Millar’s clear and concise writing style. He often boils down his points into practical steps to take. Whether it is loving God or loving others, Millar helps us see how we can do it better. The church in Corinth was a spiritual battlefield. Christians today can learn from it as a training ground for our own gospel ministry. This is what the world needs now.
I received a media copy of 2 Corinthians For You, and this is my honest review.
May 24, 2024
Overall idea and review:
This series is interesting as it seeks to take a book of the Bible, do a commentary, but really make it a readable monograph. It’s doable, but often feels strained. And in this book, it seemed like a lot of lists (7 things here, 5 there, etc.). That all said, reading this was refreshing and brought up some great insights, especially in just being amazed at Paul and his love and care for the Corinthians. I just wonder if this format isn’t the best. For even though it’s making the Bible seem more accessible, it ends up flattening out a lot of it, straining to apply it directly, and often muddling it in some ways.
Favorite Ideas:
- The reality of ministry: We face difficulties, God comforts us/encourages/streghtens us, out of that, we encourage others. Repeat. (20). Very realistic.
- The lasting fruit of our lives will be people—people whom God has changed through the gospel…Think for a moment about those people…over the years…” (52-53).
- “We need to fear God, not people. There is no more pressing issue for anyone who is involved with ministry of any kind at any level in the church of the Lord Jesus” (65). Well said, convicting, and stirring. “People don’t take you away from your ministry; they are your ministry” (115)
General Notes:
- Paul wants people to know about the seriousness and the satisfaction of the gospel.
- Interesting throughout to see Paul’s philosophy of ministry explained: The gospel message, coupled with really loving people (see 101)
- “There is a delicious freedom in knowing what God has—and hasn’t—given us to do—and sticking to it” (152)
Things I Didn’t Particularly Like:
- Sometimes he jumps from the text to Paul to us without really considering how Paul was uniquely an apostle. It makes the applications often seem less textual
Key Applications/Takeaways for My Life:
- I want to love and care for people (like Paul). I must. People are my ministry. A great reminder from the whole book, seeing Paul’s incredible care and love for these Corinthians
This series is interesting as it seeks to take a book of the Bible, do a commentary, but really make it a readable monograph. It’s doable, but often feels strained. And in this book, it seemed like a lot of lists (7 things here, 5 there, etc.). That all said, reading this was refreshing and brought up some great insights, especially in just being amazed at Paul and his love and care for the Corinthians. I just wonder if this format isn’t the best. For even though it’s making the Bible seem more accessible, it ends up flattening out a lot of it, straining to apply it directly, and often muddling it in some ways.
Favorite Ideas:
- The reality of ministry: We face difficulties, God comforts us/encourages/streghtens us, out of that, we encourage others. Repeat. (20). Very realistic.
- The lasting fruit of our lives will be people—people whom God has changed through the gospel…Think for a moment about those people…over the years…” (52-53).
- “We need to fear God, not people. There is no more pressing issue for anyone who is involved with ministry of any kind at any level in the church of the Lord Jesus” (65). Well said, convicting, and stirring. “People don’t take you away from your ministry; they are your ministry” (115)
General Notes:
- Paul wants people to know about the seriousness and the satisfaction of the gospel.
- Interesting throughout to see Paul’s philosophy of ministry explained: The gospel message, coupled with really loving people (see 101)
- “There is a delicious freedom in knowing what God has—and hasn’t—given us to do—and sticking to it” (152)
Things I Didn’t Particularly Like:
- Sometimes he jumps from the text to Paul to us without really considering how Paul was uniquely an apostle. It makes the applications often seem less textual
Key Applications/Takeaways for My Life:
- I want to love and care for people (like Paul). I must. People are my ministry. A great reminder from the whole book, seeing Paul’s incredible care and love for these Corinthians
January 5, 2025
We read this as a group for our Bible study after reading 1 Corinthians for You (which I much preferred). Different authors. I found this one just uninteresting and read NT Wright’s book on 2 Corinthians at the same time just for more insight. Read that one instead: 2 Corinthians for Everyone.
May 17, 2020
Another great addition to this excellent series. He really helps you understand some of the trickier passages. I've found it a great encouragement during lockdown.
November 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It is easy to read and helped me to understand 2 Corinthians.
March 25, 2024
So little in terms of exegesis, and so sweeping and broad as to prove non-beneficial for any crew. IMO.
January 8, 2022
I got a clearer understanding of 2Corithians through Gary Miller’s writing; understanding the cultural, political, historical influences and behaviors of the Corinthian people and Paul’s strong desire to get them to change their ways-
This is a difficult book of the Bible to read with out a commentary. I definitely do not read them so that I have an excuse to water down God’s Word or to bend God’s Word to my lifestyle and my behaviors. It’s not that I don’t believe in what God‘s Word says or I need mortal man to give me his perspective. I believe God‘s Word is His word and it’s infallible and without error- this modern world is trying to get us to believe in things that are on biblical and the commentaries help me to get those deeper understanding of things that people seem to be changing altering from God’s Word-
This is a difficult book of the Bible to read with out a commentary. I definitely do not read them so that I have an excuse to water down God’s Word or to bend God’s Word to my lifestyle and my behaviors. It’s not that I don’t believe in what God‘s Word says or I need mortal man to give me his perspective. I believe God‘s Word is His word and it’s infallible and without error- this modern world is trying to get us to believe in things that are on biblical and the commentaries help me to get those deeper understanding of things that people seem to be changing altering from God’s Word-
December 19, 2024
It was okay. There were good things in it but a lot what the author said didn’t really seem to add to the passage and I don’t intend to read more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews