May 11 2020 - Introduction to 2 Corinthians

When Paul dispatched the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, he expected to follow it with a personal visit and to be able to remain a while at Corinth (1 Cor 16:5-8). In the meantime he sent Timothy to them (1 Cor 4:17; 16:10). Shortly after Timothy's departure, Paul seems to have changed his plans. He now proposed to visit the Corinthians twice, once on his way to Macedonia and a second time on his return, before sailing on to Judea (2 Cor 1:15,16), along with delegates from the churches taking gifts to the Christians at Jerusalem.

However, when Timothy arrived in Corinth he found that a particular ringleader had launched a personal attack on Paul (2 Cor 2:5-11; 7:8-13). Timothy was unable to resolve the problem and returned to Ephesus to inform Paul of the situation. In response, Paul made a brief and 'painful' visit to Corinth (2 Cor 2:1). The opposition to Paul seems to have centred upon one or two leaders whom the Corinthians tacitly supported or at least refused to disown.  "Moreover, the church had been infiltrated by Judaisers from Judea, men who were adamantly opposed to the gospel Paul preached and who ridiculed his apostleship (2 Cor 2:5-8; 7-12)" (Donald Carson). The work of the gospel was in jeopardy at Corinth.

Paul left, and rather than making the previously planned double visit to Corinth he returned to Ephesus from where he wrote a severe yet tearful letter. This further change of plan left him open to the charge of being fickle (2 Cor 1:16-2:4). The 'severe letter' was sent to Corinth in the hands of Titus (2 Cor 2:4; 7:8). This letter has been lost (though some think that it is (partially) preserved in 2 Corinthians 10-13). In this letter, Paul demanded the punishment of the ringleader(s) who had opposed him (2 Cor 2:3-9; 7:8-12).

Shortly afterwards, Paul faced severe problems at Ephesus which, we believe, led to his imprisonment. Eventually he was released and compelled to leave the city (see Acts 19 and 2 Cor 1:8,9).

Paul's imprisonment in Ephesus had proved traumatic to him not only in terms of its physical brutality and the uncertainty over whether he would live or die, but also because of his deep concern for the welfare of the churches – not least, Corinth.

Having been released, Paul may first have travelled to Colossae where Philemon's guest room awaited him. Here he could spend a little time recovering from his ordeal. Yet all the time he was anxious to be on his way to Corinth. Paul decided to travel not by a direct sea route but overland, hoping to meet up with Titus on the way and to discover what sort of reception he might expect in Corinth.

2 Corinthians seems to have been written in bits and pieces as Paul moved around northern Greece on the slow road to Corinth. It reflects his genuine anxieties and changing moods.

Paul travelled north from Ephesus to Troas hoping to find Titus there. When he did not find him he continued on to Macedonia (perhaps Philippi) to intercept him (2 Cor 2:12f.). There Titus informed Paul that the worst was over, the rebellion has been quelled (2 Cor 7:6-16). In response, and in the midst of organising the collection from the Macedonian churches, Paul wrote (in part or in whole) the letter we know as 2 Corinthians. This letter he sent back to Corinth with Titus.

In 2 Corinthians 1-9 Paul expresses his joy concerning the news brought by Titus. For a while he had regretted having written the 'severe letter', fearing it might have done more harm than good. Now he sees that it has produced genuine repentance and he is glad. Now he encourages the Corinthians to complete the collection.

With chapter 10 the tone seems to shift from joy to anger and polemic. For this reason, some suggest that chapters 10-13 are the misplaced 'severe letter.' Ralph Martin suggests rather that Titus was initially sent to Corinth with the letter we have preserved in 2 Corinthians 1-9. Shortly afterwards Paul learnt of further trouble at Corinth, prompting an addendum which is now chapters 10-13. Carson, however, suggests that Paul wrote (or dictated) the first nine chapters shortly after meeting up with Titus but at this stage the letter remained unfinished (and unsent). The business of organising the collection among the Macedonian churches meant that completion of the letter was delayed and it was during this time that Paul heard of further problems at Corinth. This fresh news prompted completion of the letter with chapters 10-13. The chapters are different in tone because they are Paul's response to very different news, but all of the chapters form a single letter.

Paul eventually arrived in person at Corinth (Acts 20:2), where, after about a year he wrote the letter to the Romans.

Peter Misselbrook