2 Corinthians among the letters that Paul had written to Corinth
Paul’s first visited Corinth in 50-51 AD, when he was brought before Gallio, the Roman proconsul (Acts 18:12-17). Because of that, we can date that first visit accurately. It was during that time that the Corinthian congregation formed (covered in 1 Corinthians, Lesson 1, including background information for Corinth).
In 1 Corinthians, Paul referred to an earlier letter that he had written to them (1 Corinthians 5:9). Thus, 1
Corinthians then was his second letter to them, not his first. At the end of “1 Corinthians,” Paul wrote that he wished to visit them and stay there during the winter (1 Corinthians 16:6-7). But that planned visit and length of stay didn’t happen. Instead, Paul hurriedly made a visit, which was cut short!
During that visit, Paul mentioned in that someone in the congregation attacked him and the rest of the congregation did little support him (2 Corinthians 2:5 and 7:12). About that incident, Paul wrote, “So even though I wrote to you, it wasn’t because of the man who did the wrong…” (2 Corinthians 7:12). And so we learn that Paul wrote another letter to the congregation at Corinth after 1 Corinthians, which 2 Corinthians references. That means 2 Corinthians was his 4th letter to them.
Authorship
2 Corinthians identifies its writers as the Apostle Paul and Pastor Timothy. The letter testifies to its joint authorship by using “we” in many places: 2 Corinthians 1:3-14, 17, 19, 21, 24; 3:1-3; 4:5, 12, 14; 5:12-13, 20; 6:1, 9; 7:2, 6-7, 14; 8:1, 6-7, 13-14, 22; 10:11-16. However, we also find numerous uses of “I,” referring only to Paul, not Timothy, primarily in 2 Corinthians, chapters 11-12.
Even more so than 1 Corinthians, we find only a few uses of “we” that also included the Corinthian congregation. These are: 2 Corinthians 1:21b-22, 6:14-7:1, 10:2-7, and 11:21 (in chapters 10-11, Paul uses “I” to refer to himself and “we” to call the Corinthians to repentance).
What does all this means? It point us to several truths:
- What Timothy was to do as a pastor was the same as what Paul was to do as an Apostle. Although pastors are not Apostles (who the foundation of the Church, Ephesians 2:20), they are to carry out what Jesus had charged His Apostles to do. 2 Corinthians reflects this worldview.
- This letter is more directive than 1 Corinthians (if that’s possible!).
- Although the Paul and Timothy are the authors, the authority only flow ones way: From the Apostle Paul to, and through, Pastor Timothy (but not from Timothy back to, and through, the Apostle Paul). That’s why the “we” sections of 2 Corinthians include both Paul and Timothy, but the “I” sections only include Paul.
Date of Letter
50-51 AD: Paul starts the congregation at Corinth. Paul spent 18 months during that first visit and established a church, consisting of mostly Gentiles (Acts 18:1-18).
53 AD: Paul’s first letter to Corinth, now lost. From 1 Corinthians 5:9, we learn that Paul had written an earlier letter, where he had urged the Corinthians “not to associate with sexually immoral people.” Some thought that meant to avoid contact with all outsiders, from which Paul had to correct them.
Spring, 54 AD: Paul and Sosthenes write “1 Corinthians” (1 Corinthians 16:8). Paul sends Timothy to deliver the letter (1 Corinthians 16:10), hoping that it will help bring unity to that theologically dysfunctional congregation. Most likely, Timothy returned quickly to Ephesus with disheartening news.
Summer, 54 AD: In response, Paul hastily visits Corinth during the summer of AD 54, a visit that was painful and filled with much grief (2 Corinthians 2:1, 5). This visit was unplanned but Paul considered it necessary. He changed his travel plans mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:5-7, deciding to go directly to Corinth from Ephesus.
Summer-autumn, 54 AD: Paul wrote his letter of “tears” (2 Corinthians 2:5), his third to Corinth, now lost. We know the basics of this letter from comments he made in “2 Corinthians,” where Paul expressed his love and concern for them, but also conveyed his heartache. Paul was dismayed that the Corinthians did not stand up for him as an Apostle, nor the apostolic message he brought.
Paul then had Titus deliver this letter, instead of Timothy (2 Corinthians 2:13, 7:5-16). However, unlike Timothy’s visit, the Corinthians had a change of heart. They dealt with the person who had had caused “pain” to Paul (2 Corinthians 2:6, 7:11), and even wanted Paul to visit them again (2 Corinthians 7:7).
Autumn-winter, 54 AD: Titus was traveling back toward Ephesus to meet Paul along the way. Paul, not finding Titus in Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12-13), continued westward, eventually meeting Titus in Macedonia, before the onset of winter. There, Titus told Paul about the Corinthians’ response to his 3rd letter, which brought him much joy and consolation (2 Corinthians 7:6-7, 13).
But not all at Corinth agreed with the “offenders” excommunication (2 Corinthians 2:6, uses “most”). Titus must have also told Paul about others arriving at Corinth, who criticized Paul’s appearance and lack of eloquence. They accused him of hiding behind the “severe and forceful” letters he wrote (2 Corinthians 10:10). They also claimed to have superior apostolic credentials, bringing with them “letters of recommendation” (2 Corinthians 3:1) while boasting of their pedigree (2 Corinthians 11:22) and spectacular exploits (2 Corinthians11:23), such as visionary experiences (2 Corinthians 12:1-6). In contrast, Paul’s life was marked by suffering, and his preaching focused on the cross (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Winter-spring, 55 AD: Paul and Timothy write “2 Corinthians.” Once completed, Paul sends Titus and two unnamed brothers (2 Corinthians 8:16-24) to deliver it.
Goal of 2 Corinthians
1 Corinthians was written to help reconcile factions within the Corinthian congregation. 2 Corinthians also focused on reconciliation: Between Paul and Timothy and the Corinthian congregation. Paul and Timothy will put into practice what they wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17-20: They are “ambassadoring” for God. Because of that, their words are God’s words; thus, to discredit God’s presbyter (“ambassador” is the verb form of presbyter) was to deny the reality of being reconciled to God.
A Rhetorical Structure of 2 Corinthians
When we look at 2 Corinthians, we find a clear structure of how Paul and Timothy made their case for reconciliation between themselves and the Corinthian congregation.
Greetings
Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-2
- Why was Paul and apostle? Is that significant?
- Based on the greeting, how do we know that a congregation does not get to “fly solo”?
The Purpose of 2 Corinthians
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
- Why is God worthy of being praised?
- Because of what God does, how could Paul and Timothy comfort the Corinthian Christians?
Paul now transitions to let the Corinthians know how God comforts amid suffering.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:5
Verse 5 is a continuation of verse 4, explaining how God the Father comforts.
Pastor’s translation: “…since, just as the sufferings of the Messiah are overflowing into us, so also are we overflowing in comfort through the Messiah.”
- Through whom does God the Father comfort the Christian?
- If the sufferings of Christ do not overflow into the Christian, what then does he not have from God the Father through His Son? Discuss the implications of this.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:6
- If Paul and Timothy’s affliction is for the Corinthians’ comfort and salvation, what then is God doing through them?
- In what way (or in whom) are Paul and Timothy linked with the Corinthian congregation?
- When we consider what God was doing through Paul and Timothy for the Corinthian congregation, how does that give us a fuller picture of the Church?
Read 2 Corinthians 1:7
Hope: That which we know awaits us as Christians, but which we do not, right now, experience. “Now a hope that can be observed is not really hope, because who hopes for what he sees?” (Romans 8:24)
- What is the “hope” that Paul and Timothy have for the Corinthian congregation?
- Why is their hope unshaken?
By itself, the sufferings of Paul and Timothy amounted to little more than that they suffered. However, when their sufferings are connected to Jesus’ sufferings for our salvation (thus, comfort), it becomes significant! For just as Jesus’ suffering was not insignificant for our salvation, neither was Paul and Timothy’s suffering insignificant for the life of Corinthian congregation.
What is to come
The rhetorical structure of 2 Corinthians conveyed how Paul and Timothy would deal with the Corinthian congregation. This section, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, begins to open up the content of what 2 Corinthians will cover, revealing two major themes that will make up much the letter.
Suffering: The topic of suffering that this section introduces will further develop in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, 4:7-12, 6:1-10, and 11:23-12:10, becoming one of its major themes
Comfort: Along with suffering will come its counterpart, comfort, scattered throughout 2 Corinthians: 2:7-8; 5:20; 6:1; 7:4, 6-7, 13; 8:4, 6, 17; 9:5; 10:1, 12:8, 18; 13:11.
