Christianity: Details about 'Second Epistle To The Corinthians'
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See also: First Epistle to the Corinthians and Third Epistle to the Corinthians
Shortly after writing his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul left Ephesus, where intense excitement had been aroused against him, the evidence of his great success, and proceeded to Macedonia. Pursuing the usual route, he reached Troas, the port of departure for Europe. Here he expected to meet with Titus, whom he had sent from Ephesus to Corinth, with news of the effects produced on the church there by the first epistle; but was disappointed (1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 1:8; 2:12, 13). He then left Troas and proceeded to Macedonia; and at Philippi, where he delayed, he was soon joined by Titus (2 Corinthians 7:6, 7), who brought him good news from Corinth, and also by Timothy. Under the influence of the feelings awakened in his mind by the favourable report which Titus brought back from Corinth, this second epistle was written. It was probably written at Philippi, or, as some think, Thessalonica, early in the year AD 58, and was sent to Corinth by Titus. This letter he addresses not only to the church in Corinth, but also "to the saints which are in all Achaia", i.e., the Roman province of Achaea. The contents of this epistle may be thus arranged: 1. Paul speaks of his spiritual labours and course of life, and expresses his warm affection toward the Corinthians (chapters 1-7). 2. He gives specific directions regarding the collection that was to be made for their poor brethren in Judea (8, 9). 3. He defends his own apostolic claim (10-13), and justifies himself from the charges and insinuations of the false teacher and his adherents. This epistle, it has been well said, shows the individuality of the apostle more than any other. "Human weakness, spiritual strength, the deepest tenderness of affection, wounded feeling, sternness, irony, rebuke, impassioned self-vindication, humility, a just self-respect, zeal for the welfare of the weak and suffering, as well as for the progress of the church of Christ and for the spiritual advancement of its members, are all displayed in turn in the course of his appeal."--Lias, Second Corinthians. There is some discussion over whether the letter was originally one letter or a combination of 2 letters. That other letters were written is known as Paul refers to the "letter of tears" in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 and 7:8. The abrupt change of tone from being previously harmonious to bitterly reproachful in 2 Corinthians 10-13 has led many to speculate that these chapters form part of the tearful letter which were in some way tagged on to Paul's main letter. Of the effects produced on the Corinthian church by this epistle we have no definite information. We know that Paul visited Corinth after he had written it (Acts 20:2, 3), where he then stayed for three months. In his letter to Rome, written at this time, he sent salutations from some of the principal members of the church to the Romans.
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