2 Corinthians

This is arguably Paul's most personal and vulnerable letter. In 1 Corinthians, he was the teacher; here, he is the suffering pastor. Some people in the church were attacking his authority, calling him unimpressive and a bad speaker. Paul defends himself not by bragging about his strengths, but by boasting in his weaknesses.

He famously describes a "thorn in the flesh" that tormented him, which God refused to remove so that Paul would rely entirely on grace. It is a raw look at the cost of ministry. After baring his heart here, Paul shifts gears to defend the core message of the Gospel itself in the fiery letter to the Galatians.