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- The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
“The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians,” New Testament Teacher Resource Manual (2002), 187–92
This Epistle written during this time
First missionary journey (Acts 13–14)
Second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–18:22)
Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23–21:15
Imprisonment in Caesarea and Rome (Acts 21:16–28:31)
Through second Roman imprisonment
Author: Paul wrote 2Corinthians as a follow-up letter to his previous communications (see the introduction to 1Corinthians, p.174; 2Corinthians 1:1; 10:1).
Audience:Paul wrote 2Corinthians to the same Church members he had addressed in 1Corinthians (see 2Corinthians 1:1), and also to the Saints living in Achaia. Achaia was essentially a Roman province comprising all of Greece (see Bible map13). A growing discontent had arisen among the Corinthian Saints due to the accusations of false teachers. Paul wrote to answer these accusations and to reassure the Saints in their faith.
Historical Background: Shortly after Paul wrote 1Corinthians, he sent his close friend Titus on a visit to Corinth to determine how his letter was received (see 2Corinthians 7:13, 15). While Paul waited for Titus’s return, a riot developed in Ephesus in opposition to his teachings (see Acts 19), so he fled to Macedonia (see 2Corinthians 1:8–11). When Titus joined him again (see 2Corinthians 7:6), Paul learned of the news from Corinth.
False teachers had infiltrated the Church there and were preying on the gullible for money. These teachers had accused Paul of taking money that was collected to assist the poverty-stricken Saints in Jerusalem. They had also challenged his authority as an Apostle. After hearing the concerns delivered by Titus, Paul wrote the letter known as 2Corinthians sometime during A.D.55–57 (see Bible Dictionary, (“Pauline Epistles,” p.743).
Unique Features: Paul shared more autobiographical information in this letter than in any other (see 2Corinthians 11–12). He did so to answer his critics in Corinth who questioned his authority in the gospel and his loyalty to the gospel cause.
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