Paul Writes the Second Letter to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 1:1-2 KJV 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of
God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at
Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2 Grace be to you
and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction
Again, I am drawn to Albert Barnes’ view of this second letter to the Corinthians.
Section 1. The Design of the Second Epistle to the
Corinthians
In the Introduction to the First Epistle to the Corinthians, the situation and character of the city of Corinth, the history of the church there, and the design which Paul had in view in
writing to them at first, have been fully stated. In order to a full understanding of the design of this Epistle, those facts should be borne in distinct remembrance, and the reader is
referred to the statement there made as material to a correct understanding of this Epistle. It was shown there that an important part of Paul’s design at that time was to reprove
the irregularities which existed in the church at Corinth. This he had done with great fidelity. He had not only answered
the inquiries which they proposed to him, but he had gone
with great particularity into an examination of the gross disorders of which he had learned by some members of the
family of Chloe. A large part of the Epistle, therefore, was
the language of severe reproof. Paul felt its necessity; and he 228
had employed that language with unwavering fidelity to his
Master.
Yet it was natural that he should feel great solicitude in regard to the reception of that letter, and to its influence in accomplishing what he wished. That letter had been sent from Ephesus, where Paul proposed to remain until after the
succeeding Pentecost 1Co_16:8; evidently hoping by that time to hear from them, and to learn what had been the manner of the reception of his Epistle. He proposed then to
go to Macedonia, and from that place to go again to Corinth
1Co_16:5-7; but he was evidently desirous to learn in what
manner his First Epistle had been received, and what was its
effect, before he visited them. He sent Timothy and Erastus
before him to Macedonia and Achaia Act_19:22;
1Co_16:10, intending that they should visit Corinth, and commissioned Timothy to regulate the disordered affairs in
the church there. It would appear also that he sent Titus to
the church there in order to observe the effect which his Epistle would produce, and to return and report to him, 2Co_2:13; 2Co_7:6-16.
Evidently, Paul felt much solicitude on the subject; and the
manner in which they received his admonitions would do much to regulate his own future movements. An important
case of discipline; his authority as an apostle; and the interests of religion in an important city, and in a church which he had himself founded, were all at stake. In this state of mind he himself left Ephesus, and went to Troas on his
way to Macedonia, where it appears he had appointed Titus
to meet him, and to report to him the manner in which his
First Epistle had been received; see the note at 2Co_2:13.
Then his mind was greatly agitated and distressed because
he did not meet Titus as he had expected, and in this state of 229
mind he went forward to Macedonia. There he had a direct
interview with Titus 2Co_7:5-6, and learned from him that
his First Epistle had accomplished all which he had desired,
2Co_7:7-16. The act of discipline which he had directed had
been performed; the abuses had been in a great measure corrected, and the Corinthians had been brought to a state of true repentance for their former irregularities and disorders.
The heart of Paul was greatly comforted by this intelligence, and by the signal success which had attended this effort to
produce reform. In this state of mind, he wrote to them this
second letter.
Titus had spent some time in Corinth. He had had an opportunity of learning the views of the parties, and of ascertaining the true condition of the church. This Epistle is designed to meet some of the prevailing views of the party
which was opposed to him there, and to refute some of the
prevailing slanders in regard to himself. The Epistle, therefore, is occupied to a considerable extent in refuting the slanders which bad been heaped upon him, and in
vindicating his own character. This letter also he sent by the hands of Titus, by whom the former had been sent, and he
designed doubtless that the presence of Titus should aid in
accomplishing the objects which he had in view in the Epistle; see 2Co_8:17-18.
Section 2. The Subjects Treated in this Epistle
It has been generally admitted that this Epistle is written without much definite arrangement or plan. It treats on a variety of topics mainly as they occurred to the mind of the
apostle at the time, and perhaps without having formed any
definite arrangement before he commenced writing it. Those
subjects are all important, and are all treated in the usual manner of Paul, and are all useful and interesting to the 230
church at large; but we shall not find in this Epistle the same systematic arrangement which is apparent in the Epistle to
the Romans, or which occurs in the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Some of the subjects of which it treats are the
following:
(1) He mentions his own sufferings, and particularly his late trials in Asia. For deliverance from these trials, he expresses his gratitude to God; and states the design for which God called him to endure such trials to have been, that he might
be better qualified to comfort others who might be afflicted
in a similar manner. 2Co_1:1-12.
(2) He vindicates himself from one of the accusations which
his enemies had brought against him, that he was unstable
and fickle-minded. He had promised to visit them; and he had not yet fulfilled his promise. They took occasion, therefore, to say that he was unstable, and that he was afraid to visit them. He shows to them, in reply, the true reason why he had not come to them, and that his real object; in not doing it, had been “to spare” them, 2Co_1:13-24.
(3) The case of the unhappy individual who had been guilty
of incest, had deeply affected his mind. In the First Epistle, he had treated of this case at large, and had directed that discipline should be exercised. He had felt deep solicitude in regard to the manner in which his commands on that subject
should be received, and had judged it best not to visit them
until he should be informed of the manner in which they had
complied with his directions. Since they had obeyed him, and had inflicted discipline on him, he now exhorts them to
forgive the unhappy man, and to receive him again to their
fellowship, 2Co_2:1-11.
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(4) He mentions the deep solicitude which he had on this subject, and his disappointment when he came to Troas and
did not meet with Titus as he had expected, and had not been
informed as he hoped to have been of the manner in which
his former Epistle had been received, 2Co_2:12-17. In view
of the manner in which they had received his former Epistle,
and of the success of his efforts, which he learned when he
reached Macedonia, he gives thanks to God that all his efforts to promote the welfare of the church had been successful, 2Co_2:14-17.
(5) Paul vindicates his character, and his claims to be regarded as an apostle. he assures them that he does not need letters of commendation to them, since they were fully acquainted with his character, 2Co_3:1-6. This subject leads
him into an examination of the nature of the ministry and its importance, which he illustrates by showing the comparative
obscurity of the Mosaic ministrations, and the greater dignity, and permanency of the gospel, 2Co_3:7-18.
(6) In 2 Cor. 4; 5 he states the principles by which he was
actuated in the ministry. He and the other apostles were greatly afflicted, and were subjected to great and special trials, but they had also great and unusual consolations. They were sustained with the hope of heaven, and with the assurance that there was a world of glory. They acted in view of that world. and had gone forth in view of it to entreat people to be reconciled to God.
(7) Having referred in 2 Cor. 5 to the nature and objects of
the Christian ministry, he expatiates with great beauty on the temper with which he and his brethren, in the midst of great
trials and afflictions, executed this important work;
2Co_6:1-10.
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(8) Having in this manner pursued a course of remark that
was calculated to conciliate their regard, and to show his affection for them, he exhorts them 2Co_6:11-18, to avoid
those connections which would injure their piety, and which
were inconsistent with the gospel which they professed to love. The connections to which he particularly referred were, improper marriages and ruinous alliances with idolaters, to
which they were particularly exposed.
(9) In 2 Cor. 7 he again makes a transition to Titus, and to
the joy which he had brought him in the intelligence which
he gave of the manner in which the commands of Paul in the
First Epistle had been received, and of its happy effect on the minds of the Corinthians.
(10) in 2 Cor. 8–9 Paul refers to, and discusses the subject
on which his heart was so much set - the collection for the
poor and afflicted Christians in Judea. He had commenced
the collection in Macedonia, and had boasted to them that the Corinthians would aid largely in that benevolent work,
and he now sent Titus to complete it in Corinth.
(11) in 2 Cor. 10 he enters upon a vindication of himself, and of his apostolic authority against the accusation of his enemies; and pursues the subject through 2 Cor. 11 by a comparison of himself with others, and in 2 Cor. 12 by an
argument directly in favour of his apostolic authority from
the favours which God had bestowed on him, and the
evidence which he had given of his having been
commissioned by God. This subject he pursues also in
various illustrations to the end of the Epistle.
The objects of this Epistle, therefore, and subjects discussed, are various. They are, to show his deep interest in their welfare - to express his gratitude that his former letter had 233
been so well received, and had so effectually accomplished
what he wished to accomplish - to carry forward the work of
reformation among them which had been so auspiciously
commenced - to vindicate his authority as an apostle from the objections which he had learned through Titus they had
continued to make - to secure the collection for the poor saints in Judea, on which his heart had been so much set -
and to assure them of his intention to come and visit them
according to his repeated promises. The Epistle is
substantially of the same character as the first. It was written to a church where great dissensions and other evils
prevailed; it was designed to promote a reformation; and is
a model of the manner m which evils are to be corrected in a
church. In connection with the First Epistle. it shows the manner in which offenders in the church are to be dealt with, and the spirit and design with which the work of discipline
should be entered on and pursued. Though these were local
evils, yet great principles are involved here, of use to the church in all ages; and to these Epistles the church must refer at all times, as an illustration of the proper manner of administering discipline, and of silencing the calumnies of
enemies.
Section 3. The Time and Place in which the Epistle Was
Written
It is manifest that this Epistle was written from Macedonia
(see 2Co_8:1-14; 2Co_9:2), and was sent by Titus to the church at Corinth. If so, it was written probably about a year after the former Epistle. Paul was on his way to Corinth, and was expecting to go there soon. He had left Ephesus, where
he was when he wrote the First Epistle, and had gone to Troas, and from thence to Macedonia, where he had met with
Titus, and had from him learned what was the effect of his
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First Epistle. In the overflowing of his heart with gratitude for the success of that letter, and with a desire to carry forward the work of reformation in the church, and
completely to remove all the objections which had been made to his apostolic authority, and to prepare for his own
welcome reception when he went there, he wrote this letter -
a letter which we cannot doubt was as kindly received as the
former, and which Like that accomplished the objects which
he had in view.1
Conclusion
In the next part, we will see that Paul will write the next book, the Book of Romans, an epistle to the church located in Rome.
1 e-Sword, Version 13.0.0, Copyright 2000-2021 Rick Meyers, Albert Barnes Commentary 235