Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthian Christians

Background

The Corinthian Christians are special to Apostle Paul. Their relationship goes back when together with Aquila and Priscilla, established the church of the Lord at Corinth, a progressive city in the province of Achaea in Greece (Acts 18:1-8).   Apostle Paul spent three years and six months preaching there to help the Corinthian church of Christ to grow and mature. One of his major work there is the conversion of Crispus, ruler of the synagogue and all his household (Acts 18:8).

Finally, because his presence and preaching troubled the Jews, Paul left Corinth for Ephesus (Acts 18: 18-23). After this, no subsequent visits to Corinth were mentioned by Luke (the writer of the book of Acts) except that which Paul himself recorded in 1 Corinthians 4:19, 1 Corinthians 16: 5-8 and 2 Corinthians 12:14 and 2 Corinthians 13:1.

His love for this congregation is evident having written them twice. And so, after having left the Corinthian congregation, Paul surprisingly received news from the household of Chloe that problems inside the church caused divisions among its members (1 Corinthians 1: 11). Paul wrote the first time to the Corinthian Christians primarily to address this disturbing news. The second epistle was written by Paul to express his thanksgiving to a repentant majority and to appeal to a rebellious minority to accept his authority as an apostle. Apparently, some teachers that visited them casted doubts regarding Paul’s apostleship. They influenced the Corinthian Christians and said Paul is not a true apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Theme and Purpose of Writing. Chapter 1 verses 12 to 24 is a large part of Paul’s introduction in his second letter. He tells them why he is writing. Yet, he did not waste time to establish the very foundation of this letter. He writes to them, so this rebellious minority of church at Corinth will repent and accept his apostleship (verses 12-14)

He begins his humble defense against his detractors in verse 12 when he said that his ministry is anchored on SIMPLICITY AND GODLY SINCERITY. Apostle Paul emphasized here that inasmuch as he SUFFERED much for the cause of Christ and for the cause of salvation (verses 3-11), he continued in his ministry with a character of a true apostle. This is something that the Corinthian Christians will have to have to recognize for the following reasons:

1. Paul is not like the other teachers peddling the word of God (2 Cor. 2:17)
2. Paul loves them sincerely like his own children. (1 Cor. 4:14)
3. Paul’s desire for them is to simply mature (1 Cor 3: 2-4)
4. Paul desires to see them again and look at them eye to eye and prove his case.

Secondly, Paul wanted them to know that he plans to visit them soon (verse 15). He said that his desire to win them back is his motivation to come and visit. His intention is to stay with them before going to Macedonia and then from Macedonia revisit again the second time before proceeding to Judea. His visit is characterized by the following:

1. Thoroughly planned (verse 17)
2. Truthfully planned (verses 18-19)
3. Gloriously planned (verses 20)

Thirdly, Paul wanted them to know through this letter that it was God who established the Corinthian church of Christ and he himself together with the Corinthian Christians are anointed by God (verse 21). And the proof of this, is the guarantee of the Holy Spirit who was given to them as a seal of their faith.

Lastly, Paul wanted to restore them to God and this is his top priority (verse 23, 24).