The Second Epistle to the
Corinthians
The Second Epistle to the
Corinthians, or 2 Corinthians was written by
Paul the Apostle. While there is little doubt among
scholars that Paul is the author, there is discussion
over whether the letter was originally one letter or a
combination of two or more of Paul's letters.
Although the New Testament only contains two letters to
the Corinthians, the evidence from the letters
themselves is that he wrote at least four:
1. 1 Cor. 5:9 ("I have written you in my letter not to
associate with sexually immoral people", NIV) refers to
an early letter, sometimes called the "warning letter".
2. 1 Corinthians
3. Paul refers to an earlier "letter of tears" in 2
Corinthians 2:3-4 and 7:8. 1 Corinthians does not match
that description; so this "letter of tears" must be
between 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians.
4. 2 Corinthians
The abrupt change of tone from being previously
harmonious to bitterly reproachful in 2 Corinthians
10-13 has led many to speculate that chapters 10-13 form
part of the "letter of tears" which were in some way
tagged on to Paul's main letter. Those who disagree with
this assessment usually say that the "letter of tears"
is no longer extant.
Some scholars also find fragments of the "warning
letter", or of other letters, in chapters 1-9, for
instance that part of the "warning letter" is preserved
in 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, but these hypotheses are less
popular.
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