Page 57 - New Testament Survey Student Textbook

Sometime after writing 1 Corinthians, Paul likely sent Timothy to Corinth (1 Cor 16:10–11). Paul was on
his third missionary journey at the time and had originally intended to travel from Ephesus to
Macedonia and then head south to Corinth (1 Cor 16:5–8). Instead he made a short visit directly to
Corinth, only to have a sorrowful visit there (2 Cor 2:1; 12:21; 13:2). This
painful visit prompted him to write his severe letter (2:3–4). From Corinth,
he went to Macedonia, where he wrote 2 Corinthians (2:13; 7:5; 9:2)—
likely sometime during AD 55–57. In Macedonia, Paul had received a
positive report from his associate Titus about the Corinthians—his severe
letter had essentially worked (7:6–10). However, 2 Corinthians shows that
Paul’s attempts to persuade the Corinthians to follow Jesus’ ways, instead
of the ways of their culture, were still very much in progress (see the
“Introduction to 1 Corinthians”).

Later in Paul’s life he returned to Greece for three months—likely to Corinth (Acts 20:2–3); it is during
this time that Paul probably wrote Romans (Acts 20:3–21:16).

Author
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother” (1:1a). Both extant letters
to the Corinthians are nearly universally recognized as authentic. Timothy, like Sosthenes for 1
Corinthians, probably served as the amanuensis. Paul is the author of the entire extant document
(10:1); its literary integrity is a separate matter (see Integrity below).

Provenance and Date
Paul leaves Ephesus and anxiously travels to Troas, then to Macedonia where he receives good news
from Titus about the state of the church in Corinth (2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:15-16; cf. Acts 19:21: 20:1-2). Paul
writes extant 2 Corinthians –D- (from Macedonia; Sept/Oct 56; 2 Cor 2:13; 7:5), sending it by Titus who
is to ready the Corinthians for Paul’s coming visit, especially with regard to the Jerusalem collection (2
Cor 8-9). Does letter D include just Chapters 1-9 or the entirety of our 2 Corinthians (Chapters 1-13; see
Integrity below)? Bruce (AHSF, 276) and Barrett (Second Corinthians, 243ff.) suggest 2 Cor 1-9 (“letter of
reconciliation” –D) sent; then, with further news of false apostles in Corinth encountered on Titus’
second visit, Paul dispatched 2 Cor 10-13 (“letter of rebuke” –E). An alternative scenario is that Chapters
1-9 were written and, before sending the letter, fresh news came of troubles in Corinth from those
pseudo-apostles. In response, Paul added Chapters 10-13 and the entire extant letter was sent to
Corinth.

Addressees
“To the church of God in Corinth, together will all the saints throughout Achaia” (1:1b).
Possibly copies of the letter were to be made in Corinth and circulated to other congregations in the
province of Achaia.

Occasion

After writing 1 Corinthians (Spring A.D. 56 from Ephesus) Paul changed his travel plans: instead of his
original intention of paying them two short visits he now would pay them one extended visit (which may
have been his original intention [cf. 1 Cor 16:5-9]). For this he was criticized as being fickle and
unreliable (1:17).

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