2 Corinthians 1:1-4
Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the Church of God, which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in the whole of Achaia: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; Who comfort us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
It is meet to enquire, first, why to the former Epistle he adds a second: and what can be his reason for thus beginning with the mercies and consolation of God.
Why then does he add a second Epistle? Whereas in the first he had said, I will come to you, and will know not the word of them which are puffed up, but the power; and again towards the end had promised the same in milder terms, thus, I will come unto you when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I do pass through Macedonia; and it may be that I shall abide, or even winter with you; yet now after along interval, he came not; but was still lingering and delaying even though the time appointed had passed away; the Spirit detaining him in other matters of far greater necessity than these. For this reason he had need to write a second Epistle, which he had not needed had he but a little out-tarried his time.
2 Corinthians 1:5
But not for this reason only, but also because they were amended by the former; for him that had committed fornication whom before they applauded and were puffed up about, they had cut off and separated altogether. And this he shows where he says, But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many. And as he proceeds, he alludes again to the same thing when he says, For behold that you were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what longing, yea, what zeal, yea, what avenging! In every thing ye approved yourselves to be pure in this matter. Moreover, the collection which he enjoined, they gathered with much forwardness. Wherefore also he says, For I know your readiness of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. And Titus too, whom he sent, they received with all kindness, as he shows when he says again, His inward affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. For all these reasons he writes the second Epistle. For it was right that, as when they were in fault he rebuked them, so upon their amendment he should approve and commend them. On which account the Epistle is not very severe throughout, but only in a few parts towards the end. For there were even among them Jews who thought highly of themselves, and accused Paul as being a boaster and worthy of no regard; whence also that speech of theirs; His letters are weighty, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account: meaning thereby, when he is present he appears of no account, (for this is the meaning of, his bodily presence is weak,) but when he is away he boasts greatly in what he writes, (for such is the signification of his letters are weighty.) Moreover, to enhance their own credit these persons made a pretence of receiving nothing, to which he also alludes where he says, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. And besides, possessing also the power of language, they were immediately greatly elated. Wherefore also he calls himself rude in speech, showing that he is not ashamed thereof; nor deems the contrary any great acquisition. Seeing then it was likely that by these persons some would be seduced, after commending what was right in their conduct, and beating down their senseless pride in the things of Judaism, in that out of season they were contentious to observe them, he administers a gentle rebuke on this subject also.
- Such then, to speak summarily and by the way, appears to me the argument of this Epistle. It remains to consider the introduction, and to say why after his accustomed salutation he begins, as he does, with the mercies of God. But first, it is necessary to speak of the very beginning, and inquire why he here associates Timothy with himself. For, he says, Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother. In the first Epistle he promised he would send him; and charged them, saying, Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear. How then is it that he associates him here in the outset with himself? After he had been among them, agreeably to that promise of his teacher, I have sent unto you Timothy who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, and had set everything in order, he had returned back to Paul; who on sending him, had said, Set him forward on his journey in peace that he may come to me, for I expect him with the brethren.