The letter of 2 Corinthians is important, Paul Barnett believes, for its magnificent message that God's power is brought to people in their weakness, not in human strength. This momentous theme emerges in a dramatic real-life situation. The apostle confronts shadowy opponents who had recently come to Corinth and formed an alliance with some of the church leaders and members. His letter is a fascinating record of that conflict. Paul Barnett argues that this heated debate between apparent power and apparent weakness is still with us today. His aim in this exposition has been to allow the timely message of 'God's fool' to be clearly heard.

The more we understand biblical characters like the apostle Paul in their concrete situations and in their own time, the more we will be able to apply biblical principles to today's church, its leaders and its mission-transforming and enriching the way we do church today. Paul and his Friends in Leadership examines the apostle Paul's critical relationships with key people, illustrating his humanity, faith, confidence in God and his leadership qualities. This novel approach, by an expert in the New Testament, will encourage us to reflect on leadership in the church today and will help us to see how significant authentic relationships are to our contemporary mission.

Over the last century many sceptical 'lives of Jesus' have been written. Paul Barnett argues that their authors have used wrong historical methodology, ignoring some of the most important early evidence about Jesus Christ and failing to account for the first Christians' beliefs about him. A historian himself, Barnett shows that when the evidence is dealt with properly, a picture of Jesus emerges that fits well with orthodox belief in him. An addition to the New Studies in Biblical Theology - a series growing in size and scholarly reputation.

Since Jesus lived so long ago, we assume that we know little about his life story. In fact, we know more about him than many famous people closer to our own time. We have twenty-seven New Testament texts focused on him written by nine different authors; and, although hostile to him, non-Christian writers from the same era corroborate the basic facts about Jesus and the character of early Christianity. The first Christians worshipped Jesus the exalted Messiah as a divinity, as witnessed by Pliny's observation that they sang hymns to Christ 'as if to a god' - and yet many dismiss the pre-crucifixion Jesus as something infinitely less, a mere rabbi or prophet. In response, Paul Barnett offers this accessible exploration of Jesus as Messiah, beginning with a survey of Old Testament prophecies and then working through Messiah's birth, mission, message, miracles, resurrection, etc. in the New Testament. Barnett demonstrates that, as Messiah, Jesus is the centre of the Bible's story, which is the story of God's salvation of the human race. As the fulfilment of the promises in the Old Testament, the Messiah is the end of the beginning. At the same time, as the herald and inaugurator of the kingdom of God, he is the beginning of the end. So Messiah is the centre of all things that matter, both for humanity and for individuals.

Paul Barnett expounds Luke chapters 9-19 with the intention of provoking faith and faithfulness in the lives of Jesus' followers today. Taking the metaphor of life as a journey, Paul Barnett follows the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem and suggests that we journey with him. Barnett stresses the important place of kingdom in this and the ethics of Christian living which naturally follow from being in the presence of a humble Saviour. More than a commentary, then, this important book challenges the way we live in the light of Jesus' last days and self-sacrifice.

At the heart of the Christian faith stands a man, Jesus of Nazareth. Few people seriously question whether Jesus existed in history. But many, influenced by the more skeptical scholars, doubt that the Christ of orthodox Christianity is the same as the Jesus of history. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, historian Paul W. Barnett lays these doubts to rest. He uncovers the methodological weaknesses present in some forms of critical scholarship, demonstrating a failure to account for important early evidence about Jesus. Once the evidence is properly marshalled, a picture of Jesus emerges that fits well with orthodox belief in him. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.