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<\/span><\/p>\nWritten by Marko Marina, Ph.D.<\/a><\/p>\n Author | Historian<\/p>\n Author | Historian | BE Contributor<\/p>\n Verified! See our guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n Verified! See our editorial guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n \nDate written: June 20th, 2024<\/p>\n\nDate written: June 20th, 2024\n Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. – Dr. Bart D. Ehrman<\/p>\n Without a doubt, the apostle Paul is the most important missionary of the first century. His work in establishing new communities and connecting them with old ones proved to be of profound importance for the development of Christianity.<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s missionary journeys took him across the Roman Empire, where he founded numerous churches and maintained close relationships with them through his letters. These epistles are not only crucial historical documents but also form a significant part of the New Testament. One such letter is the Second Epistle to the Corinthians<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 2 Corinthians is a rich and complex letter that provides deep insights into Paul’s ministry and his relationship with the Corinthian church. Written in response to various challenges and issues faced by the community in Corinth, this epistle addresses themes of reconciliation, the nature of the new covenant, and Paul’s suffering and apostolic authority.<\/p>\n This article aims to provide a comprehensive summary of 2 Corinthians, chapter by chapter<\/strong>, highlighting key verses that capture the essence of each section. By breaking down the letter in this manner, we hope to make the complex and sometimes challenging content of 2 Corinthians more accessible to readers.<\/p>\n Our goal is to present a scholarly yet friendly overview that helps you understand the historical context, main themes, and significant passages of this important epistle. <\/p>\n For those interested in exploring the historical perspectives on other foundational Christian texts, consider Dr. Bart D. Ehrman’s online course,<\/strong> \u201cThe Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John<\/a>\u201d, where he distinguishes between history and myth<\/strong> in the canonical gospels and presents what the contemporary scholarship reveals about these profound historical sources.<\/p>\n Who wrote 2 Corinthians? The letter begins with a clear attribution: \u201cPaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother; To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia (1:1).\u201d<\/p>\n The early Church accepted this attribution, asserting that Paul was the main author<\/strong> and that Timothy served as a co-author. St. Jerome, for instance, argued that Timothy <\/strong>acted as an amanuensis or secretary<\/strong>, writing the letter based on Paul\u2019s dictation. <\/p>\n This practice was common for Paul, as we know from other sources like Romans, where he utilized secretaries in composing his letters. Furthermore, other Greco-Roman figures, such as Cicero, also relied on secretaries, as E. Randolph Richards elaborated in his book Paul and First-Century Letter Writing<\/a>. (Affiliate Disclaimer: We may earn commissions on products you purchase through this page at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!<\/em>)<\/p>\n Based on various arguments, including internal evidence and external attestation, virtually all contemporary scholars agree that Paul indeed wrote 2 Corinthians. However, there is ongoing debate (see below) about whether the letter as we know it today was originally a single document or a compilation of two or more letters.<\/p>\n As Raymond E. Brown notes in his Introduction to the New Testament<\/a>: \u201cAlthough there is no doubt that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, transitions from one part of the letter to the other have been judged so abrupt that many scholars would chop it up into once-independent pieces.\u201d However, we\u2019ll explore these issues in more detail in a future article.<\/p>\n Christian communities in Corinth (modern-day Greece) were in a constant internal struggle<\/strong>, marked by divisions and conflicts arising from religious, social, and cultural differences. As discussed in an earlier article, these issues were the primary reasons Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. However, the struggles continued unabated.<\/p>\n In The New Testament: A Historical Introduction<\/a>, Bart Ehrman explains: “The church in Corinth appears not to have been a happy place. Paul saw a community that was divided against itself and that tolerated immoral and scandalous behavior while claiming (ironically, in Paul\u2019s eyes) to enjoy an exalted standing with Christ.”<\/p>\n One of the most significant issues was the emergence of the so-called “super-apostles”<\/strong> (2 Cor 11:5) in Corinth, who challenged Paul’s message and authority. It\u2019s Paul who calls these people “super-apostles” in a sarcastic way to minimize their importance, as it wasn\u2019t a cultural norm of that time to be referred to that way. These controversies form the basic framework and historical context<\/strong> behind the writing of 2 Corinthians.<\/p>\n What further complicates the matter is the structure of II Corinthians itself. Most scholars assert that the letter we have today was compiled from several different works Paul wrote. <\/p>\n This “copy-paste method” has led some scholars to argue that 2 Corinthians 1-9 was originally composed of five letters Paul<\/strong> sent to address various issues, including his relationship with the Corinthian community.<\/p>\n Despite these complexities, the overarching theme of 2 Corinthians remains clear: Paul is fervently defending his apostleship and addressing the ongoing internal issues within the Corinthian church.<\/p>\n The exact dating of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians presents a challenge due to questions about its internal integrity. Since many scholars believe that what we now know as 2 Corinthians was originally a collection of different letters written by Paul, it\u2019s difficult to pinpoint the exact dates for each part. <\/p>\n However, there are still some scholars who argue for the original unity of 2 Corinthians. Raymond E. Brown, for instance, is more cautious, asserting that \u201cfrom the earliest times 2 Corinthians has been presented in its present format.\u201d<\/p>\n Regarding the possible date of this letter, Brown suggests that Paul wrote it “in late summer or early autumn of 57 C.E.” from Macedonia. If 2 Corinthians originally circulated as a set of different letters, the question arises: When did the “copy and paste” process occur? <\/p>\n In his Commentary<\/a>, Victor P. Furnish provides a possible answer: \u201cIt would appear that 2 Cor was given its present form sometime during the period 96-125 C.E.<\/strong> since it was probably not known to the author(s) of 1 Clem but was certainly being circulated with other Pauline letters by the time of Marcion. It\u2019s not unreasonable to suppose that the editing of 2 Cor occurred shortly after 1 Clem, a letter from the Roman Christians to the troubled Corinthian congregation, had been received in Corinth about the year 96.\u201d<\/p>\n Having provided a general overview of the key historical issues surrounding 2 Corinthians, we are now well-positioned to delve into a more detailed analysis of its content<\/strong>. Let’s proceed with a chapter-by-chapter summary<\/strong>, highlighting key verses that encapsulate the core messages of each section.<\/p>\n [tqb_quiz id=’11973′]<\/p>\n What is 2 Corinthians about? Before exploring that question, we decided to create a clear table with the most important themes<\/strong> (chapter by chapter) and key verses<\/strong> from the NIV translation of the Bible. <\/p>\n![\"2](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2-Corinthians.png\" "\\"2")
<\/span><\/p>\nSummary of 2 Corinthians: A General Overview<\/h2>\n
Why Did Paul Write 2 Corinthians? A Brief Look at the Historical Context<\/h2>\n
When did Paul Write 2 Corinthians? The Issue of Dating and Compilation<\/h2>\n
A Summary of 2 Corinthians<\/h2>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-2-Corinthians-About.png\" "\\"What")
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