Paul wrote this epistle to the Corinthian Saints see 2 Corinthians Shortly after Paul wrote the epistle we have as 1 Corinthians, a riot developed in Ephesus in opposition to his teachings see Acts —41 , and he departed to Macedonia see Acts ; 2 Corinthians ; It appears that while he was in Macedonia he wrote 2 Corinthians, likely around A.
The epistle we have as 2 Corinthians was written to Church members in Corinth. While Paul was in Macedonia during his third missionary journey, Titus brought him news from Corinth that an earlier letter he had sent had been well received by the Saints there see 2 Corinthians — The Corinthian branch of the Church was making progress, but Paul also learned of false teachers there who were corrupting the pure doctrines of Christ.
Much of 2 Corinthians addresses the problems caused by these false teachers. The letter is riddled with personal comments as Paul revealed details about the persecution he had suffered for the sake of Christ as well as about a mysterious thorn in the flesh that kept him reliant on God.
After sending Timothy off from Ephesus to deliver the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul, in his concern for the church, made a quick visit of his own to Corinth. Afterward, Paul returned to his work in Ephesus, where he wrote a sorrowful letter to the Corinthians that has not been preserved see 2 Corinthians —11; Paul then departed for Macedonia.
The apostle composed this letter near the end of AD 56, possibly in the city of Philippi. Paul first focused on the generous example of the Macedonian churches, largely Gentile, who gave to their Jewish Christian brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.
Then he exhorted the Corinthian believers to make donations of their own to the work in Jerusalem. Several realities about Christian giving become clear in these two chapters: Christians give generously according to, and at times beyond, their financial abilities; Christians give their money across racial and national lines; Christians who make commitments to give should follow through with those promises; and Christians should give cheerfully, rather than under compulsion.
The church at Corinth had recently been struggling with divisions and quarrels. But for a majority of the believers, the problem had been solved by the time Paul wrote 2 Corinthians.
Many had repented of their sinful ways and had come back into unity with one another and with the leadership of Paul. That verse also mentions Timothy. So, the Christians in Corinth knew Timothy well. It is possible that Timothy wrote some of the letter. The reference to Timothy is similar to the reference to Sosthenes in 1 Corinthians In our opinion, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians less than a year after he wrote 1 Corinthians. Paul was working in Corinth in the year 51 A.
He wrote this second letter from Macedonia. After that, Paul went to Jerusalem and then, as a prisoner, to Rome. There is a theory that the Book of 2 Corinthians is a collection of two, or perhaps more, shorter letters. We do not like that theory, and we have seen no evidence to support it in our studies of the book. In our opinion, that idea would destroy the very clear structure that the book has.
For Paul, that was very unusual. Usually, he only remained in each place for a few days. He remained in Corinth because God was doing something very special in that city.
Nowhere else had Paul seen so many people who served false gods become Christians. The church that Paul established there was an astonishing church. There was great excitement in the meetings, and the Holy Spirit was very active there.
They formed opposing groups and they argued fiercely.
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