Second Letter to the Corinthians

Preview

Who Wrote the Second Letter to the Corinthians?
When and Where Was the Second Letter to the Corinthians Written?
What Was the Background of the Second Letter to the Corinthians?
Why Was the Second Letter to the Corinthians Written? What Does It Teach Us?
What Is the Content of the Second Letter to the Corinthians?

Who Wrote the Second Letter to the Corinthians?

The apostle Paul is widely accepted as the author of 2 Corinthians. Some scholars think that 2 Corinthians 2:14–7:4 and 10–13 might be separate letters. However, scholars mainly question Paul’s authorship of 6:14–7:1. This section does seem to interrupt Paul’s main topic. However, it would be even more unusual for a later editor to place it in this location. Also, Paul repeats an idea in 7:2 that he first mentions in 6:13. This suggests that Paul knew he had moved away from his main topic. He repeated the idea to guide his readers back to it.

When and Where Was the Second Letter to the Corinthians Written?

After writing both the "previous letter" (1 Corinthians 5:9) and 1 Corinthians from Ephesus in AD 55, Paul continued his work there. The next year, a crisis arose in Corinth. Paul made a quick trip across the Aegean Sea but could not resolve the crisis. A church leader, who was likely an outsider with letters from Jerusalem, opposed him. This forced Paul to leave (2 Corinthians 2:1, 5).

After returning to Ephesus from this "painful visit," Paul sent Titus with a harsh "letter of tears" (2 Corinthians 2:4; 7:8, 12). This was his third letter to the church. The letter led to the leader's excommunication and the church's repentance. This letter has been lost.

Meanwhile, a dangerous situation arose in Ephesus, making Paul fear for his life (see Acts 19:23–41; compare Romans 16:4; 2 Corinthians 1:8–9). Paul was not killed, but his escape seemed miraculous.

Paul left Ephesus in early AD 56 and traveled north to Troas. He was looking for Titus and hoping to receive news about the church in Corinth. When Titus did not arrive, Paul could no longer bear the uncertainty. He left a promising ministry in Troas and sailed to Philippi.

In Philippi, Paul met Titus. Titus told him that the Corinthians had changed their attitude toward Paul. Second Corinthians 1–9 addresses this situation. Chapters 8–9 prepare the Corinthians for Paul's upcoming visit.

Later, Paul received more news from Corinth. Some people there had begun to oppose him again. In response, Paul wrote the defense of his ministry found in 2 Corinthians 10–13. He then visited Corinth later that year (Acts 20:2–3).

We do not know how the Corinthians responded to 2 Corinthians or what happened during Paul’s final visit. However, the church continued to face problems. Near the end of the first century, another Christian leader wrote a letter to the church. This letter is known as the Epistle of Clement.

What Was the Background of the Second Letter to the Corinthians?

The Corinthian house churches were very diverse. Some people liked Apollos and did not like Paul's simple style. Others who preferred Peter looked to the original apostles in Jerusalem with their Jewish customs (1 Corinthians 1). Traveling teachers with letters from these apostles easily gained followers in Corinth. They weakened Paul's authority and even questioned his character.

Because of this outside influence, the collection for the poor in Jerusalem that Paul started (1 Corinthians 16:1–4) was paused. This was in part because it was connected to Paul. Another reason for the pause was that the teachers were taking money from the church. Paul writes to reaffirm his love and to repair damage caused by these outsiders.

Why Was the Second Letter to the Corinthians Written? What Does It Teach Us?

In the first section of the letter, Paul has two main goals:

to strengthen his renewed relationship with Corinth, and
to restart the collection for Jerusalem.

First, he wants to strengthen his renewed relationship with Corinth. He explains recent events, forgives those who opposed him, and teaches about Christian ministry.

For Paul, ministry includes both deep suffering and great comfort. He suffers physically and emotionally because of difficult events and people. However, he also finds joy and comfort in God’s power at work in him and in the reward God has promised.

After a recent experience in which he nearly died, Paul also reflects on what happens after death. He expects God to give him a resurrected body. He also expects to be with Jesus after he dies.

Paul’s second goal is to restart the collection for the believers in Jerusalem. He gives important teaching about generosity and the Christian use of money and resources. Christians should follow Christ’s example by giving freely. They should also seek greater economic equality when deciding who should give and who should receive help.

The second section of the letter is a passionate self-defense. It refutes the outsider's claims of being superior. In Christian ministry, neither speaking skills nor family background matter. Only God's call is important.

In both sections, Paul shows a strong desire for church unity. He wants unity within the local community and with God-appointed leaders like himself.

What Is the Content of the Second Letter to the Corinthians?

Greetings, 1:1–7

A standard greeting (2 Corinthians 1:1–2) comes before Paul’s usual thanksgiving (verses 3–7). The topic of thanksgiving (comfort during suffering) is the focus of chapters 1–7. Paul understands suffering, but through it, he has felt God’s comfort, which he shares with the Corinthians.

Paul’s Explanation, Chapter 1, Verse 8 to Chapter 2, Verse 13

Paul tells the Corinthians about the danger he faced in Ephesus. The danger was so great that he did not expect to survive. When he did survive, it seemed almost like being raised from death. This strengthened his belief that Christians must trust in God, not in human strength (1:8–11). In that situation and all others, Paul's only boast is having a clear conscience before God (verses 12–14).

Paul had told the Corinthians that he planned to visit them twice (see 1 Corinthians 16:5–6). But apart from a brief "painful visit," he did not follow through (2 Corinthians 1:15–2:4). Some people accused Paul of making plans without seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Others thought he changed his plans because he could not be trusted.

Paul rejected these charges. His message and his life reflected God’s promises, which are fulfilled in Jesus. Paul had changed his plans because he did not want to make another "painful visit" like the one he had made the year before.

The Corinthians had responded to Paul’s "letter of tears" by expelling the person who had opposed him (a different person than the one in 1 Corinthians 5). Since the person became sorry for his actions, Paul asked for his return to the community. He freely and kindly forgave the man who had hurt him. Excommunication (removing someone from fellowship) is for those who do not repent. Repentance and restoration are the hopeful end of excommunication (2 Corinthians 2:5–11).

Paul then described his journey from Ephesus to Philippi. He was looking for news about the response to the "letter of tears" (2 Corinthians 2:12–13). He left an opportunity to serve in Troas so that he could find Titus in Philippi. At this point, Paul pauses the story and begins a long discussion of another subject.

The Nature of Apostolic Ministry, 2:14–7:4

Paul’s ministry as an apostle was similar to the ministry of Jesus. It included both suffering and glory. Even in suffering, Christians share in Christ’s victory.

Paul compares this victory to a Roman victory parade. The smell of perfume brought joy to the winning soldiers. But for prisoners being led to death, the same smell meant that execution was near. In the same way, Christ’s victory brings life to those who believe and death to those who do not believe (2 Corinthians 2:14–17).

Paul’s words about Christ’s victory may sound like boasting. However, Paul is not praising himself. He does not need letters that recommend him as a teacher. A rival teacher in Corinth may have carried such letters from Jerusalem. The Corinthians themselves are the evidence that God has worked through Paul’s ministry (2 Corinthians 3:1–3).

Paul is proud not of himself but of the new covenant in the Spirit. Unlike the old covenant, it does not fade away (Paul follows one Jewish interpretation of Exodus 34:29–35, where Moses covered his face so people would not see the glory fade). It does not hide God's presence. The new covenant is lasting; it shows God directly through the Spirit. There is no deceit or secrecy, because the message is not about Paul but about Jesus, who is the light (2 Corinthians 3:4–4:6).

Paul the messenger is like a fragile, inexpensive pot holding a priceless treasure. This shows that the gospel's power comes only from God. The contrast between weakness and power is evident in the apostle's sufferings. These sufferings are a form of living death, similar to the sufferings of Jesus. From this, the life of Jesus flows to others (2 Corinthians 4:7–15).

Although Paul suffers greatly, he does not lose courage. He looks beyond this life to the rewards of the life to come. He lives by faith, not by what he can see, because his hope is based on realities that are still unseen (2 Corinthians 4:16–18).

Paul expects to receive an eternal resurrection body after death. He does not hope to become a spirit without a body, which he calls being "naked." Instead, he expects to enter a glorified bodily life. The presence of the Holy Spirit guarantees this hope.

Paul may have reflected deeply on death after he nearly died in Ephesus. He may have prayed and thought about what would happen after death (2 Corinthians 5:1–5). Paul also knows that Christ will judge him. For this reason, he wants to live in a way that pleases Christ. By faith, he already lives with this future judgment in mind (verses 6–10).

Paul did not try to praise himself. He showed that he was filled with Christ's love. He believed everyone should live for Christ, not themselves (2 Corinthians 5:11–15).

We should not judge anyone from a human perspective, not even Paul or Christ. Before converting, Paul had a human view of Christ, but that changed. We should see everyone as part of the new creation. Paul's role was to share the message of reconciliation in the new creation. God has already done his part, and now people need to accept it (2 Corinthians 5:16–20).

Paul worked with God to announce salvation. He used every method that aligned with God's character to share the message. He endured all kinds of suffering to show the depth of God's love (2 Corinthians 6:1–10). Therefore, Paul held no grievances against the Corinthians. If there was any barrier in their relationship with him, it must have been on their side (6:11–13).

Discussion on Purity, 6:14–7:1

Paul may have believed that the Corinthians’ love for worldly values was harming their relationship with him. He may also have thought that they had not fully left behind the problems described in 1 Corinthians. For this reason, he pauses his main discussion and teaches about the moral purity and holiness of believers.

Paul describes two opposing groups: light and darkness, Christ and the devil, and believers and unbelievers. He then combines phrases from several Old Testament passages: Exodus 25:8, Leviticus 26:11–12, Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 37:27, and Hosea 1:10. Jewish teachers often used this kind of chain quotation, joining phrases from several passages.

Paul’s point is that Christians should not form close relationships with unbelievers that may weaken their faithfulness to God. This includes marriage and business partnerships when those relationships could harm their moral purity.

Return to the Nature of the Apostolic Ministry, 7:2–4

Starting from 2 Corinthians 6:13, Paul notes that the Corinthians have no real complaints against him. He is not criticizing them but is asking them in love. Even now, he is ready to die for them.

Explanation Concluded, 7:5–16

After finishing this discussion, Paul returns to the story of his journey, which he had paused in 2 Corinthians 2:13. When he met Titus, he received good news about Corinth. He was relieved that his "letter of tears" had been effective. It did not just make them sorry. It had led them to true repentance, which means turning away from sin and back to God. Their repentance produced eagerness, moral purity, and joy.

The Corinthians had also treated Titus very well. Titus spoke warmly about them, and his report brought Paul even more encouragement.

Gathering Donations for Jerusalem, 8:1–9:15

Paul discusses the collection for the church in Jerusalem, which suffered due to famines in Judea in the 40s. This collection was both an act of charity (see Acts 11:27–30; Galatians 2:10) and a symbol of unity and fellowship between the Gentile and Jewish parts of the church.

The poor and suffering church in Macedonia (Philippi) had given eagerly. Titus was now returning to Corinth to help the believers complete the collection they had begun the year before. They had probably stopped working on it during their conflict with Paul (2 Corinthians 8:1–7).

Paul gives three main principles for this collection:

The Corinthians should follow the example of Jesus, who became poor for them.
They should give freely what they can without regretting not giving more. God values the eagerness to give shown through action, not the total amount.
There should be economic equality among the churches. One church should not become rich while another remains in need (see Exodus 16:18). This concern for equality applies even between two churches a continent apart (2 Corinthians 8:8–15).

Titus and two completely trustworthy men, chosen by the churches for this task, will oversee the final collection. Paul will not handle the money himself. It is important for both God and the world to see the church's honesty and integrity in managing money (2 Corinthians 8:16–24).

In this section, Paul explains that he does not need to discuss the reasons for the collection. They knew these reasons when they started gathering money the year before. This letter encourages them to complete the task.

Paul wants the Corinthians to be ready when he arrives with representatives from other churches bringing their contributions. He does not want them to feel embarrassed if their wealthier church is not prepared to give generously, especially after Paul praised their past eagerness. By saying this, Paul shows diplomacy and insight in motivating people. He assumes the best about the current situation (2 Corinthians 9:1–5).

Paul did not want the Corinthians to give out of guilt. Like Jesus (Matthew 6:19–20), he emphasized that money's true value lies in helping others. He wanted them to be so sure of God's generosity and ability to provide that they would give freely and joyfully. God wanted to enrich them so they could give more. This giving would lead to recipients thanking God and praying for the givers, strengthening the church community. The section ends with a reminder of the extent of God's own giving (2 Corinthians 9:6–15).

Paul's Self-Defense, 10:1–13:14

The tone changes suddenly between 2 Corinthians 9:15 and 10:1. In 1:1–7:16, Paul mainly seeks peace and a restored relationship with the Corinthians. Now he argues, defends himself, and gives strong warnings. Some people had challenged Paul’s authority as an apostle. He now responds firmly and defends his ministry.

Paul was a humble person who did not like to use his authority. However, when necessary, he had more than authority; he had spiritual power. This power could destroy opposing arguments and bring everyone to obey Jesus. He would use that power in Corinth if needed. Until then, he had been gentle and showed this side of his ministry only in letters (2 Corinthians 10:1–11).

His opponents talked about their qualifications and compared themselves to other ministers. Paul refused to join this comparison game. God had defined his work area, where he started churches. He pioneered the church in Corinth, so it was his area of ministry, not the outsider's. They bragged about benefiting from his work, but Paul could show an original ministry given by God. In the end, God's approval is what matters (2 Corinthians 10:13–18).

However, the Corinthian rebellion is serious enough to make him defend himself, even though it seems absurd. He was shocked by how easily they accepted every new teaching. This tendency worries Paul (2 Corinthians 11:1–6).

Some people criticized Paul because he refused financial support from the church in Corinth, even though he accepted gifts from other churches (compare 1 Corinthians 9). Paul planned to continue refusing their support. He wanted to show that the rival teacher’s claims were false.

Paul argues that if this teacher truly served God, he should be willing to work under the same conditions as Paul. But Paul believed that the teacher was false and was serving Satan rather than God. In Paul’s view, the teacher wanted money from the church.

Paul was surprised that the Corinthians, who were proud of their wisdom, did not recognize this hypocrisy. Even so, he hoped they would listen to his defense, even if speaking about himself made him sound foolish.

The irony was that Paul’s gentle care for the church was being used against him. His opponents called this gentleness a weakness. They claimed that Paul refused money because he knew his ministry was false and did not dare accept support from the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:7–21).

Some people claimed they had authority from Jerusalem and brought letters from the apostles. However, it is unlikely the apostles approved of their actions. These individuals were Jews with some authority.

Paul felt he needed to share his own credentials. If they were Jews, he was just as much a Jew. If they served Christ, could their work and sufferings compare to his? His list of sufferings provides historical details not found in Acts. It also shows his tireless efforts, including days without food and nights spent in prayer (2 Corinthians 11:21–29).

This boasting was unpleasant to Paul, so he focused on one specific hardship—his escape from Damascus. He had to hide and sneak out of the city in a basket. This story shows his success as an evangelist because he was a target of persecution. It also embarrassed him because he could not defend himself and had to escape at night. Yet, that weakness was actually his strength (2 Corinthians 11:30–33).

Paul's opponents boasted about revelations from God. Paul knew this boasting was pointless. However, if necessary, he would share a revelation greater than theirs.

Paul once saw the inside of heaven, though he was unsure if it was a vision or a real experience. This likely occurred around AD 42, while Paul was in Tarsus, before Barnabas came for him (Acts 9:30; 11:25).

Paul disliked sharing this because God's power is more visible in his weakness. In fact, Paul's opponents were a challenge from Satan that God allowed to keep Paul humble and to show his power through Paul's weakness. (The phrase "thorn in my flesh" refers to enemies—Numbers 33:55; Joshua 23:13; Paul explains this more clearly in 2 Corinthians 12:10). If vulnerability shows God's power, Paul willingly accepts his weakness (12:1–10).

Paul felt ashamed about boasting. The opponents bragged about coming from the Jerusalem "superapostles." Paul noted that he was their equal, even though both are insignificant. God had marked Paul's work. With sharp irony, he asked for forgiveness for not taking money from the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:11–13).

Paul planned to visit a third time, maintaining his policy of not accepting support from them, just as Jesus did. He and his envoys followed this approach. No one could accuse him of deceit or inconsistency (2 Corinthians 12:14–18).

However, Paul feared visiting them because the community had not only rebelled against him but was also in internal disorder. This disunity and immorality would humble and pain Paul (2 Corinthians 12:19–13:4).

Therefore, the Corinthians should examine themselves. Were they truly following Jesus or not? If they were, they would see that Paul was also following Jesus.

However, Paul's concern was not for his own status, but for their commitment to the truth. He was fine with being rejected ("weak"). He hoped they would repent, not to defend himself, but so he would not have to be strict when he visited (2 Corinthians 13:5–10).

Paul probably took the pen from his scribe at this point and wrote the closing words himself. He ends with a final appeal for the Corinthians to repent and live in unity as a church. He then includes brief greetings from the believers in Macedonia and closes the letter with a formal blessing (verses 11–13).