2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Written by Paul to
2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians • Written by Paul to Christians in Corinth – 2 Cor 1, “Paul…and Timothy…to the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints through Achaia” • Corinth, the city – See notes on 1 Corinthias…the city didn’t change much between 1 and 2 Corinthians!
2 Corinthians • The exchange of letters between Paul and Corinth… – Corinthians A: 1 Cor 5: 9, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons…” – Corinthians wrote back (as well as report by “Chloe’s people” 1 Cor 1: 11), 1 Cor 7: 1, “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote…” – Corinthians B: 1 Corinthians, written circa 53 -54 CE – Paul sends Timothy? (1 Cor 16: 10), but eventually makes a visit himself “painful visit” (2 Cor 1: 23, “come again”; 2 Cor 2: 1, “another painful visit”; 2 Cor 12: 14, “Here I am, ready to come to you this third time” [presumably because the 2 nd has already happened; see also 2 Cor 13: 1 -2]), also at some point have the arrival of opponents to Paul in Corinth he labels selfproclaimed “super apostles” in 2 Cor 11: 5. – Corinthians C: A painful letter written instead of visiting again in person, presumably concerning punishing an individual in the church. 2 Corinthians 2: 3 -9, “And I wrote to you as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain…for I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears…”; 2 Cor 7: 8 -13, “…if I made you sorry with my letter…” • Some scholars are convinced that 2 Cor 10 -13 was originally this letter, others are unconvinced because while 2 Cor 10 -13 represents an abrupt harsh turn in 2 Cor as a whole, there is no mention of the offending individual of 2 Cor 2: 3 -9. – Paul sends Titus? (2 Cor 12: 18) and now he has found Titus en route back to Corinth (2 Cor 2: 12 -13; 7: 6) – Corinthians D: 2 Corinthians, written circa 55 -56 CE, in Macedonia while Paul is en route from. Obviously if one takes 2 Cor 10 -13 as a separate letter, then Corinthians D is merely 2 Cor 1 -9.
2 Corinthians • Seems to be writing in response to several items (assuming it is one letter and not two): 1. 2. 3. 4. To explain his travel plans (which changed and that caused controversy) and in response to having caught up with Titus who is returning from having been with the Corinthians (2 Cor 1: 15 -2: 4; 2: 1213; 7: 5 -7) and his generally good news about the Corinthian church. Offering instructions on forgiveness and reconciliation now that the time of punishment is over for the offending individual (2 Cor 5 -11). He is sending Titus and others back with this letter to help prepare collect the gift for the churches in Jerusalem/Judea (2 Cor 8: 16 -9: 5) and he is pushing them to get it done. To offer a defense of his ministry and a warning to clean up outstanding issues before he gets there so that his visit doesn’t have to be painful like last time (2 Cor 10 -13, esp. 2 Cor 13: 10)
2 Corinthians Contents…to be done as a class…
- Slides: 5