2 Corinthians

Holy Writer and Recipients

The holy writer identifies himself in this letter in the opening verse as, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.” Later in the letter we read again, “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you...” (10:1).

In addition the Christians to whom Paul is writing are also named in the opening verses: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia” (1:1).

The Time and Place of Writing

Paul had spent three years working in Ephesus, and during that time he had written his first letter to the Corinthians regarding some problems that had arisen. After leaving Ephesus, Paul went to Troas expecting to meet up with Titus, but when he did not find him, proceeded on to Macedonia: “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia” (2:12-13).

Somewhere in Macedonia, Paul did meet up with Titus who brought good news about the situation at Corinth: “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more” (7:5-7).

As a result of the good news that Paul had received about the Corinthian congregation, Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from Macedonia sometime near the end of 56 A.D. This letter was most likely sent it back with Titus who was to gather the collection for the saints which he had spoken of in his first letter, and again encouraged in this letter (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15). Following the completion of his work in Macedonia, Paul comes to Corinth and spends three months there with them (Acts 20:2-3).

Additional Background Information

This letter to the Corinthians gives us some additional information about the problems at Corinth, not recorded in the book of Acts, but we cannot be certain of the chronology of these events:

♦     At some time during Paul’s third missionary journey, he made a trip to Corinth in order to personally deal with some of the problems within the congregation because Paul writes, “This will be the third time I am coming to you” (13:1 - cf. 12:14). Earlier in this letter Paul also speaks of a sorrowful trip to the Corinthians, saying, “But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow” (2:1). This trip may have taken place at some time during Paul’s three year ministry at Ephesus.

♦     In 2 Corinthians 2:4-5 Paul speaks of a letter he had written with many tears, saying, “And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.” Later in chapter seven, Paul says, “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (7:8-10). Some people take these verses as referring to a letter other than 1 Corinthians, and believe that Paul wrote three or possibly even four letters to the Corinthians (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:11).

Because Luke does not record these events in the book of Acts, and Paul does not lay these events out chronologically in His epistles, we cannot be sure when and how all these things took place. Knowing these additional facts will help us to realize the direness of the situation in Corinth and shows us how hard Paul worked to try and bring about a God-pleasing resolution to the problems there.

Purpose

We are told what the purpose of the letter is by Paul himself near the end of the letter: “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced” (12:20-21). Paul’s purpose is clear throughout the letter. The first letter he had sent was full of the law - pointing to the many sins and problems which needed Christian correction. Here in his second letter he was giving thanks for those who had repented of their sins; was giving instruction to the congregation of how to deal with those who had repented; and was giving more admonition to lead others to repent as well. “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction” (13:10). His entire purpose was to edify or “build up” God’s church here on earth.

Content

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is quite different from most of Paul’s other letters. In this letter he doesn’t deal as much with doctrinal and practical issues, but is more personal and the most autobiographical of all his letters - giving us a very close look into the heart of Paul the man and servant of the Lord. Here are some examples of the personal nature of this letter:

♦     Paul speaks of all that he has suffered as a servant of Christ (11:23-27, 32-33).

♦     He speaks of his sincere concern for all the brethren (11:28-29).

♦     He speaks of his “thorn in the flesh” which kept him humble (12:7-10).

In addition, Paul also speaks in great detail of the personal nature of the ministry which God had entrusted to him to preach the gospel. Paul reminds the us that this ministry is given by God but through frail human beings or “earthen vessels.” Paul says: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (4:5-7).

Outline

       I.    Introduction (1:1-11)

       II.   General Remarks (1:12-2:11)

               A.  Paul’s change in plans (1:12-2:4)

               B.  How to deal with the repentant sinner (2:5-11)

       III. Discourse on the work of the Ministry (2:12-7:16)

               A.  The blessings of the ministry from God (2:12-4:6)

               B.  The weakness of the ministry in men (4:7-5:10)

               C.  The strength which God give to men (5:11-6:10)

               D.  A call for separation (6:11-7:1)

               E.  Paul’s joy in their repentance (7:2-16)

       IV.  Instructions on the collection for the saints (8:1-9:15)

       V.   Paul’s defense of his actions and work (10:1-12:18)

       VI.  Concluding Remarks (12:19-13:14)

              A.  Call to repentance (12:19-13:10)

              B.  Final exhortations and greetings (13:11-13)

              C.  Benediction (13:14)

Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.

If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew