COPYRIGHT BY W ILLIAM EVANS
SECOND CORINTHIANS
INTRODUCTORY T TS relation to the First Epistle to the Corinthians. That it has such is indi cated by allusions to the first epistle (ii. 2, 4; 'vii. 8). Some have thought that these references deal with an epistle other than what we know as 1 Corinthians, which ' other epistle, it is claimed, was lost (cf. 1 Corinthians v. 9). In that case our 1 Corinthians would be 2 Corinthians; The reason for the theory o f this lost epistle to the Corinthians lies in the claim that the contents o f what we know as 1 Corin thians are not severe enough to "warrant such language as Paul uses in describing his previous letter to the Corinthian church. Yet 1 Corinthians ii. 16; iii. 2; iv. 8, 18-21; v. 1-8; vi. 5-8; xi. 17-22; xv. 35, 36 seem severe enough, do they not? However, the case o f one or two lost letters is problem atical. W e have two epistles—of that we are certain; and we must deal with them. The apostle was naturally anxious to know what effect his former letter had had upon the Corinthian church. Such a report was expected from Timothy, who was to have arrived shortly after the epistle had been received (1 Corinthians iv. 17; xvi. 10). Apparently, Timothy had not been as favorably received as the apostle had expected, probably because o f the party divisions (1 -Corinthians i. 11-13) and exist ing strife among the members. This fact disturbs Paul; so, subsequently, he sends "£itus to Corinth to become acquainted with conditions and report to him (2 Corinthi-
^ans ii. 12, 13; v ii.'6, 7). For. some, reason or qther Titus is delayed. Paul becomes exceedingly anxious—so much so that he cannot wait at Troas (2 Corinthians ii. 11- 13), but passes into Europe to the Mace donian city o f Philippi (2 Corinthians ii. 1.3), where Titus meets him and brings a report o f mingled joy and sorrow: joy because o f the manner in which they had received the apostle’s exhortations, rebuke, and counsel in his previous letter (2 Cor inthians vii. 9-16), having carried out his injunction regarding discipline (1 Corin thians v. l-8 )rcf. 2 Corinthians ii. 4-11) ; sorrow because the anti-Pauline element and Judaistic teachers had maligned him, personally and officially. “He was charged with fickleness (2 Corinthians i. 15-20) ; self-laudation (2 Corinthians iii. 1; v. 12; x. 8) ; imrightful assumption o f authority ,(2 Corinthians x. 14) ; with being a traitor to his country and an apostate from his faith (2 Corinthians xi. 22 ); not a true minister o f Christ (2 Corinthians x. 7; xi. 23) ; and putting himself on a level with the apostles (2 Corinthians xi. 5; xii. 11).” They made attacks on the pirvate life of the apostle (2 .'Corinthians i. 17, 18, 23; ii-11; x - 10; xiii- 2). They said he ran away from Damascus (xi. 32, 33) and from Corinth (ii. 1; xiii. 2) ; that he was vacil lating (i. 17, 18) ; impious (x. 8 ) ; cow- ardly (i. 23; xiii. 2) ; conscious o f impos ture and consequently did not dare take support (xi. 7-9; xii. 14), yet guilty of getting it by questionable means (vii. 2;
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