The book of 2 Corinthians was likely written between A.D. 55 and 57 from either Macedonia or Ephesus during Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul addressed the letter to the church in Corinth, the capital of the Roman province of Achaia—a congregation he had planted just a few years earlier during his second missionary journey. The church was made up of people from various social backgrounds, but most were neither wealthy, well-educated, nor of noble birth. Paul, Apollos, and Peter had taught these believers. However, before and even during these ministries, the Corinthian church began placing an unhealthy emphasis on worldly wisdom, likely influenced by Greek philosophy.
Between the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, Paul sent a “sorrowful letter” urging the church to discipline a particular sinner, and he made a second visit to Corinth—a visit that went poorly. By the time he wrote this letter, false apostles had gained influence among the believers, turning some against Paul. Meanwhile, the famine in Jerusalem continued, and Paul was urging churches to contribute to the needs of the impoverished believers there.
This letter was written in response to reports Paul had received about conditions in Corinth. His purposes were to confront false apostles, repair his strained relationship with the church, call the believers to repentance, and ensure the collection for the saints in Jerusalem was completed.
Doctrinally, 2 Corinthians addresses topics such as the nature of Christian suffering and comfort, the purpose and process of church discipline and restoration, the glory of the new covenant, the nature of apostolic ministry and authority, living with an eternal perspective, Christian generosity, and self-examination in the faith. Practically, Paul emphasizes reconciliation within the church, spiritual discernment, submission to apostolic authority, the necessity of discipline, care for the physical needs of others, and the role of repentance and restoration in church life.
Some scholars have argued that 2 Corinthians was initially multiple letters combined, pointing to the change in tone between chapters 1–9 and 10–13 or suggesting certain sections were later inserted. However, there is strong evidence to support the unity of the letter as we have it today. Allegedly separate sections share common themes, and the lack of multiple greetings or conclusions makes it unlikely they were once distinct letters. Most importantly, the variety of tones and topics fits well within first-century rhetorical norms, even if they seem abrupt to modern readers.
The author, the apostle Paul, was not one of the original twelve disciples. Formerly known as Saul, he was a zealous Pharisee who once persecuted the church before encountering the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3–19). Appointed by God as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul became one of the church’s earliest and most tireless missionaries, planting churches across the Mediterranean world. He wrote more books of the New Testament than any other author, including Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
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