August 24, 2022
2 Corinthians is most likely Paul’s fourth letter to the Corinthian church. He established the church during an 18-month stay from the fall of 50 AD to the spring of 52 AD (Acts18). He then wrote his first letter, which no longer exists, previous to 1 Cor. (1 Cor 5:9-11). In about 54 AD, he wrote the letter we know as 1 Corinthians. Following 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote a “severe letter” which no longer exists. He mentions this “severe letter” in 2 Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:3-4, 9; 7:8; 12). So this letter of 2 Corinthians is actually his fourth letter to the church at Corinth.
v1-2 Paul greets the church at Corinth and all the saints of Achaia. Achaia was the southern part of the Greek peninsula.
v3-7 – Here is praise for the God who is great in mercy and comfort in all our afflictions and sufferings.
v8-11 – Paul shares how his own experience of affliction left him despairing of life, but only so he would know the sufficiency and strength of God.
v12-14 – Paul looks forward to the day when there will be mutual boasting because of the grace of God working through Paul and his companion and the Corinthian church.
v15-24 – Therefore, Paul desired to come to Corinth so that he may see and experience the grace of God a second time between him and the Corinthians. Paul’s plans changed, and some criticized and accused him of fickleness or only being concerned about his status. Paul responds by explaining that he is a man of his word, but it was actually to spare them a second painful visit and not that he was too busy or important to come to them.