The Apostle Paul and the Corinthian church had a complicated relationship, and Second Corinthians is a personal letter from Paul that captures the tension. It's a letter that speaks to ministry, leadership, and preaching, and it's a letter that speaks to church conflict, church unity, and the financial support of the church. Along the way we see the mountaintops of the New Covenant and the New Creation in Christ. But we also travel through the valley of gospel paradox to see that "God’s grace is more clearly seen and more deeply savored in our weaknesses than in our strengths" (Jon Bloom). The letter is structured around these many related and connected themes, and what follows is my fallible attempt to break this infallible book into 42 thematic tweets.

2 Corinthians 1

The afflictions of a minister are designed by God to achieve the comfort and salvation of his flock. #2Cor 1:1–7

We look death in the eye to see our weakness and to lean on the God who raises the dead. #2Cor 1:8–11

Integrity is simplicity and straightforwardness, not contortion or distortion. #2Cor 1:12–14

We seek to live in integrity, to make our yes yes. Jesus' Yes is always Yes. We are secure in sovereign goodness. #2Cor 1:15–22

Leaders do not lord over but co-labor with a congregation for joy. #2Cor 1:23–2:4

When this joy abounds in his converts, Paul experiences great joy himself. To rob them of joy = to rob himself of joy. #2Cor 1:23–2:4

2 Corinthians 2

A church will be sinned against — will the church respond with forgiveness and comfort, or anger and condemnation? #2Cor 2:5–11

The gospel is Christ. #2Cor 2:12–13

Do not peddle the word as if there were no God listening — as if the main Person in the universe didn't matter. #2Cor 2:14–17

2 Corinthians 3

The competence required for New Covenant ministry is found only in God’s Spirit. #2Cor 3:1–6

If the beauty of God was awesome in the old covenant, how much more brilliant and awesome in the new covenant! #2Cor 3:7–11

Gospel ministry is turning blind spiritual eyes into the blazing beauty of God in Christ. #2Cor 3:12–18

2 Corinthians 4

Why would we tamper or soft-sell the gospel — it is the glory of God beaming in the face of Christ. #2Cor 4:1–6

Ministers are clay pots, afflicted, perplexed, struck down to display the resurrection power of gospel ministry. #2Cor 4:7–12

Ministry exists because “as grace extends to more and more people it increases thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” #2Cor 4:15

As our outer self wastes away our inner self is renewed as we look to the unseen. #2Cor 4:16–18

2 Corinthians 5

Do we long to be at home with Christ, even if we must surrender our bodies? #2Cor 5:6–10

In the fear of God, let us aim to persuade others with the gospel. #2Cor 5:11–13

Christians are those controlled and compelled by Christ's love. #2Cor 5:14–15

If anyone is in Christ — new creation! #2Cor 5:17

"He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." #2Cor 5:21

2 Corinthians 6

All Christians, like the Apostles, are to move toward need, not toward safety and comfort. #2Cor 6:1–13

We are set apart, temples of the Holy Spirit, therefore we must protect ourselves from sin and worldly partnerships. #2Cor 6:14–7:1

2 Corinthians 7

Hard words are risky, hard words hurt, but hard words bring health. #2Cor 7:2–9

Worldly grief hardens and kills. Godly grief brings repentance and life. #2Cor 7:10–12

2 Corinthians 8

Extreme poverty + abundant joy = radical generosity. #2Cor 8:1–7

Write this on your wallet: Christ sacrificed his riches for me, became poor for me, to make me spiritually rich. #2Cor 8:8–15

A trustworthy, gospel-faithful celebrity preacher is useful for the global church. #2Cor 8:16–24

2 Corinthians 9

Give money willing, bountifully, cheerfully, not covetously, sparingly, begrudgingly. #2Cor 9:1–6

Our radical financial generosity, our happiness, and God’s glory all rise together in unison. #2Cor 9:6–15

2 Corinthians 10

We are at war, armed not with swords, guns, or bombs but with Gospel truth. #2Cor 10:1-6

Paul was led to defend his Apostolic authority. #2Cor 10:7–18

2 Corinthians 11

Satan attacks us with a twisted 'gospel' just like he attacked Eve with twisted words. #2Cor 11:1–6

Paul supported himself for the sake of the Corinthians. #2Cor 11:7–15

Paul’s whole life was one stressful risk after another. He had two choices: waste his life or live with risk. #2Cor 11:16–33

2 Corinthians 12

Paul was caught up to heaven, returned, and refused to write a New York Times bestseller about it. #2Cor 12:1–6

God used Satan’s hostile intentions for Paul's holiness. #2Cor 12:7–10

"I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls." #2Cor 12:15

2 Corinthians 13

The Christian pastor cannot expect to comfort or save his people except by following the Calvary Road. #2Cor 13:1–4

Paul expects church disunity because he knows some professing Christians are phony. Test yourself. Is Jesus in you? #2Cor 13:5–10

Rejoice, restore, comfort, agree, live in peace — and thereby manifest God in your harmony. #2Cor 13:11–13

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." #2Cor 13:14

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• The Book of Romans in 45 Tweets
• The Book of 1 Corinthians in 40 Tweets