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Topic:
The Book Of 2nd Corinthians -- A Brief Overview
With regard to the book of 2 Corinthians, shortly after writing his
first letter to the Corinthians, Paul left Ephesus, where intense
excitement had been aroused against him, the evidence of his great
success, and proceeded to Macedonia. Pursuing the usual route, he
reached Troas, the port of departure for Europe. Here he expected to
meet with Titus, whom he had sent from Ephesus to Corinth, with tidings
of the effects produced on the church there by the first epistle; but
was disappointed (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 1:8; 2:12, 13). He then left Troas
and proceeded to Macedonia; and at Philippi, where he tarried, he was
soon joined by Titus (2 Cor. 7:6, 7), who brought him good news from
Corinth, and also by Timothy. Under the influence of the feelings
awakened in his mind by the favourable report which Titus brought back
from Corinth, this second epistle was written. It was probably written
at Philippi, or, as some think, Thessalonica, early in the year A.D. 58,
and was sent to Corinth by Titus. This letter he addresses not only to
the church in Corinth, but also to the saints in all Achaia, i.e., in
Athens, Cenchrea, and other cities in Greece.
The contents of this epistle may be thus arranged:
(1.) Paul speaks of his spiritual labours and course of life, and
expresses his warm affection toward the Corinthians (2 Cor. 1-7).
(2.) He gives specific directions regarding the collection that was to
be made for their poor brethren in Judea (8; 9).
(3.) He defends his own apostolic claim (10-13), and justifies himself
from the charges and insinuations of the false teacher and his
adherents. This epistle, it has been well said, shows the individuallity
of the apostle more than any other. "Human weakness, spiritual
strength, the deepest tenderness of affection, wounded feeling,
sternness, irony, rebuke, impassioned self-vindication, humility, a just
self-respect, zeal for the welfare of the weak and suffering, as well as
for the progress of the church of Christ and for the spiritual
advancement of its members, are all displayed in turn in the course of
his appeal."--Lias, Second Corinthians. Of the effects produced on
the Corinthian church by this epistle we have no definite information.
We know that Paul visited Corinth after he had written it (Acts 20:2,
3), and that on that occasion he tarried there for three months. In his
letter to Rome, written at this time, he sent salutations from some of
the principal members of the church to the Romans.
From: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Fair Use. Presented for educational
purposes only.
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