1Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 2On the first day of every week, let each one of you save as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come. 3When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.
5I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 6But with you it may be that I will stay with you, or even winter with you, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 7For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
12Now concerning Apollos the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.
13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 14Let all that you do be done in love.
15Now I beg you, brothers—you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints— 16that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied. 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.
19The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house. 20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand. 22If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed. Come, Lord! 23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
How many letters did the apostle Paul write to the church at Corinth? The evidence indicates that he wrote at least four epistles to the Corinthian believers. Two of them are present in the New Testament canon: 1 and 2 Corinthians. But two other letters written by Paul to the church at Corinth are lost to us: a “previous letter” and a “severe letter.” Paul mentioned the “previous letter” in 1 Cor 5:9-11, whereas he spoke of the “severe letter” in 2 Cor 2:3-4, 9; 7:8, 12.
The occasion behind these letters may have gone like this. Paul’s founding visit to Corinth is in Acts 18 (c. A.D. 50-52). A couple of years later, while Paul was in Ephesus, he wrote the “previous letter” (1 Cor 5). Though the contents of this letter are unknown, it surely dealt with the problem of sexual immorality in the church. Paul’s words in 1 Cor 5 suggest that the Corinthians had misunderstood his directives in this letter. This misunderstanding led to the writing of the canonical 1 Corinthians (c. A.D. 55). This letter was occasioned by several events: (1) Paul has heard from Chloe’s people (1:11) that a factional spirit has developed in Corinth; (2) he also received a letter from the Corinthian church to which he begins to respond in 1 Cor 7. He takes up the items in their letter one by one, most of them introduced by the words “now about” (7:1, 25, 8:1, 12:1, 16:1, 12). Most likely, this letter from Corinth was written as a response to Paul’s “previous letter” and was carried to Paul by three men from Corinth (16:15-17). This Corinthian delegation may have also brought oral reports about the situation in Corinth. After they received 1 Corinthians, the Christians at Corinth probably took care of most of the practical abuses that Paul had mentioned. For example, he says nothing further about abuses of the Lord’s Supper in 2 Corinthians. However, despite this improvement, the situation in Corinth deteriorated. This crisis led to Paul’s “painful visit” (2 Cor 2:1; 12:14, 21; 13:1-2). Most likely, the crisis resulted from the efforts of outsiders who opposed Paul, arrived in Corinth, and had begun to criticize him openly. A particular individual was apparently quite vocal in his opposition to Paul. After returning to Ephesus, Paul penned a “severe letter” in which he instructed the Corinthian church to punish this ringleader (2 Cor 2:4-9; 7:8-12). This letter is sent by Titus. Paul left Ephesus, and eventually he arrived in Macedonia where he meets Titus. Titus reported that the Corinthians had responded positively to the “severe letter” (2 Cor 7:5-16). Then, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians (c. A.D. 56).
Many critical scholars also argue against the integrity of 1 and 2 Corinthians and say that these books themselves each consist of more than one letter. But, the context of 1 and 2 Corinthians and the available manuscript evidence do not support such theories.