After the usual introductory section (i, 1-9) Paul first devotes his attention to the party strife in the churdi (i, 10-iv, 21). In dealing with this he points out that the church is the church of Christ, not of Paul or of Peter or of any other individual, and being founded upon the message of the Cross it is not based on a theory emanating from mere human wisdom; hence all party-strife and boasting is entirely out of place. His argument throughout was in tended to counteract the tendency, evidently present in the church, to view the Christian faith as the product of human wisdom or themy and not as something revealed to man in lus ignorance to save him. Paul passes next to advice and rebulce in reference to the offenses against Christian morality of which some had been guilty (v-vi). Then, in answer probably to wntten questions brought by the delegation, he discusses various aspects of the question of marriage (vii, 1-40) and also the important question as to how a Christian should regard the eating of meat that had been, in one way or another, offered to an idol (viii, 1-xi, 1). Paul's argument here involved reference to several related questions, especially the ex pediency of yielding one's rights in considera tion of others less firmly established in the faith. Then Paul takes up the large question of the proper order and behavior in the public services of the church, criticizing the church's conduct in three particulars, (1) that some of the women prayed in public with head unveiled (xi, 2-16), (2) that there was unbecoming dis order in the observance of the Lord's Supper (xi, 17-34), and (3) that there was an unwise and unedifying use of their various spiritual gifts (xii, 1-X1V, 40). The beautiful description of love as the way (ch. xiii) is an integral part of this discussion. Finally, the mooted question of the nature of the resurrection body is taken up and answered at length (ch. xv). The re mainder of the letter is devoted to information as ta his plans and other personal matters.
It is possible that it was while Paul vras writing this splendid letter that Timothy.arrived in Corinth only to find that the opposition te Paul in the church there had reached a violent stage. For the moment it seemed as though the church had turned completely against him and that his influence over it was entirely lost. Timothy could do nothing and returned to Paul with a most discouraging report, reaching Ephesus after 1 Corinthians had been sent Apparently also the return of the delegation with the message contained in 1 Corinthians was, for the moment at least, of no effect. In consequence of Timothy's report Paul at once made a hasty, but painful and ineffectual visit to his rebellious church,. returning to Ephesus 'in great sorrow and anxiety, although not alto gether hopeless (2 Cor. 14, If.). He now had recourse to Titus, whose earlier mis sion to Corinth had been so successful, sending him with a letter, written in great sorrow of remonstrance and appeal. The greater part of this letter is probably preserved in the latter portion of the so-called Second Epistle to the Corinthians, namely in 2 Cor. x-xiii, 10. Such seems to be the only satisfactory solution of the remarkable difference between 2 Cor. i-ix, so full of joyful confidence and thankfulness, and chapters x-xiii, so full of pain, anxiety, apology and explanation. It is this sorrowful letter that is referred to in 2 Cor. ii, 3 f. and vii, 8-12_ It was written probably early in 54 A.D. about the time of the disturbance in Ephesus caused by Demetrius (cf. Acts xix, 21-40). In this
brief letter Paul first replied to the charge that he was weak and forceless (x, 1-18), then de fended himself for his apparent self-glorifica tion, pleading his special relation to them and showing that in reality he was only glorying in his wealaiess for it was in reality God's power and not his own that he had in him (xi, 1-3di, 10). He was compelled thus to speak (xi, 11-18) and when he should come to them again, the third time, they would know how strong his position was (xii, 19-xiii, 10).
Soon after Titus' departure for Corinth with this message Paul closed his work in Ephesus (June 54 am.) in order to make a tour of his Macedonian churches and then to pay a visit to Corinth in case conditions there became more favorable. It was probably at Philippi that Titus rejoined Panl, who had been an3dously impatient to hear from him (cf. 2 Cor. ii, 12), and brought the cheering and comforting news that the church of Connth had repented of its errors and dis loyalty and was fully prepared to follow the Apostle's advice and would be glad to see him again. Out of great joy and thankfulness Paul now wrote his fourth letter to the Corinthians, which we possess as 2 Cor. i-ix. The greater part of this letter (chs. i-vii) is devoted to the happy subject of the reconciliation that had been brought about through the efforts of Titus. These chapters do not reveal any carefully worked out plan. They are profoundly emo tional and personal rather than deliberately didactic. For example, the thread of thought at ii, 13 is suddenly broken off, as the full signifi cance of Titus' success impressed itself on Paul, not to be resumed until vii, 5. But in spite of this lack of logical sequence these chapters are among the richest in spiritual truth of all the Pauline letters. Here the heart of the great apostle is laid bare and the depth and sincerity of his spiritual experience is disclosed. The latter part of the letter (chs. viii and ix) is devoted to urging the Corinthians to contribute promptly and heartily to the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. They had promised to do this the year previous and now, as he was sending Titus back to them with this letter, he urges them to have it all ready for him (Paul) to take it with him to Jerusalem as soon as possible after his expected visit to Corinth, which expectation was realized as we learn from Acts XX, 2.
It should be said that the view adopted above as to the composite character of 2 Corinthians is not. as yet generally accepted although it is receiving increasing support. To the writer it is the only theory that satisfactorily explains the references in 2 Cor. ii, 3 f. and vii, 8-12 to a sorrowful letter and also the marked differ ence in tone between 2 Cor. i-ix and x-xiii.
Bibliography.— Commentaries: Gernian, Meyer's (Kommentae ((I and II Corinthians,' by J. Weiss, Gottingen 1910) ; Zahn's (Kom mental.' ((I and II Corinthians) by P. Bach mann, Leipzig 1909, 1910) ; Weiss, J., (Die Schriften des Neuen Testaments' ((I and II Corinthians,' by W. Bousset, Gottingen 1908). English, (The Expositor's Greek Testament' ( (1 Corinthians,' by S. Findlay; (2 Corinthians,' by J. H. Bernard, New York 1900, 1903) ; 'The International Critical Commentary' ((I Corinthians,' bv A. Robertson and A. Plum mer; (II Corinthians,' by A. Plummer, New York 1911, 1915). Consult also Moffatt, J., (Introduction to the Literature of the New Testament) (New York 1911) ; Rendall, G. H., (The Epistles of Saint Paul to the Corinthians) (New York 1909).