Events Between First Corinthians
and Second Corinthians
A chronological list of events that took place between the writing of the two Corinthian letters is most helpful. Many of the details will be more fully discussed in the commentary itself under Special Problems in Ac – Second Corinthians from a Messianic Jewish Perspective. No reconstruction of events, however, meets with universal agreement.
1. After they received First Corinthians, the believers at Corinth probably rectified most of the practical abuses for which Paul had reprimanded them in his letter, First Corinthians. For example, he says nothing further in Second Corinthians about the abuse of the Lord’s Supper (see the commentary on First Corinthians, to see link click Ca – The Problem: The Abuse of the Lord), or about litigation among believers (see the commentary on First Corinthians Bb – Failure to Resolve Personal Disputes).
2. Titus visited Corinth to help start the relief fund for the poor Messianic believers in Jerusalem (Second Corinthians 8:6a and 12:18), implementing the directions Paul had given him in First Corinthians 16:2. Paul outlined his plans for a visit to Corinth, which would coincide with the Corinthians’ finalization of the collection for the poor. He would leave Ephesus after Shavu’ot (in the spring), travel through Macedonia during the summer and fall, and arrive in Corinth, where he would spend the winter before being sent on his way to Jerusalem (First Corinthians 17:5-6).
3. However, because of the arrival of false prophets (see Af – The Problem of the False Apostles) from Judea, Paul ended up making a second brief, unscheduled visit directly a across the Aegean Sea to Corinth in 55 AD, but one that was unsuccessful in reducing the level of opposition against him, especially from one particular individual (Second Corinthians 2:1 and 13:2). During this visit Paul was personally attacked by one of the members (Second Corinthians 2:5-8 and 10, 7:12). It was a painful visit for both Paul and some of his spiritual children in Corinth (see Ao – Paul’s Painful Visit).
As a result of the continued division caused by the false apostles who claimed apostolic authority, Paul sent a severe letter to them (not preserved for us) written with many tears. It was delivered by Titus and pleading with the Corinthians to change their behavior and to mend their relationship with him (Second Corinthians 2:3-9:13; 7:6-15; 8:6). Apparently, this letter was quite effective in producing repentance from his rivals (Second Corinthians 7:8-13a). In addition, Paul probably instructed Titus to try to revive the collection, which had gone by default since the arrival of false apostles and had begun to divide their support from the Corinthian church (11:7-12 and 20, 12:14).
4. Paul’s other proposed visit from number 2 above (First Corinthians 16:1-8) never came to pass. What seemingly changed his mind was the fact that the second visit was so painful, that he wanted to give the offender and his followers time to repent. He needed to be certain that things had calmed down before he dared to come again – and it was left to Titus to bring the whole situation under control (Second Corinthians 2;12-13, 7:5-7, 13b-16).
5. Paul left Ephesus shortly after the Demetrius riot in the spring of 56 AD (see the commentary on Acts Ch – Idol-Makers Start a Riot in Ephesus), and began to evangelize in Troas (Second Corinthians 12-13), and then suffered hardships in the province of Asia (1:8).
6. Paul crossed over into Macedonia in the spring or summer of 56 AD (Second Corinthians 2:13 and 7:5) and engaged in pastoral activity (Acts 20:1-2) while organizing the collection in the Macedonian churches (Second Corinthians 8:1-4 and 9:2).
7. Titus arrived in Macedonia from Corinth in the summer of 56 AD with his welcomed report of the Corinthians responsiveness to the “severe letter” (see Bl – The Effects of the Severe Letter).
8. On returning to Macedonia, Paul wrote Second Corinthians and sent the letter to Corinth in the fall of 56 AD with Titus and two unnamed colleagues who would help to complete the collection (8:6b, 16-24, 9:3-5).
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