1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), 4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me. 7By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 8Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. 11I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing. 12Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works. 13For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less? 16Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception. 17Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you? 18I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
19Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying. 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots, 21that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
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.