This letter, as is I Corinthians, is composed of a collection of fragments of Paul’s correspondence with the Corinthians about a year later (i.e., c. 55) from Macedonia. The diversity of I Corinthians was caused by the variety of problems discussed, but the diversity of II Corinthians was the result of a reflection of the underlying, rather turbulent history of Paul and his congregation. A pattern of fragments that make up II Corinthians can be understood in terms of a development that can be reconstructed. Gaps and editorial seams in this pattern are more recognizable and abrupt than those in I Corinthians, and a more original order for II Corinthians can be restored by fitting together blocks of material that obviously belong with one another in terms of context and unity of thought.

Though historical settings can be reconstructed with a high degree of validity to account for the fragments of II Corinthians, later editorial processes account for the order in which the fragments appear in the letter as it is now written. Based on both internal and external evidence, II Corinthians probably was later than I Corinthians, which was written after Paul’s first trip to Corinth. Not long before the composition of II Corinthians, Paul was in mortal danger in Asia and travelled to Macedonia, where he remained.

New apostles and heresies had apparently invaded the Corinthian congregation and Paul sent his companion Timothy to try to bring them back to the true gospel as Paul had preached it. This mission was apparently unsuccessful, and Paul, in chapters 2 to 7, wrote to the church with a defense of his apostolic office, still counting on the loyalty of the Corinthians. His letter apparently did not change things, and there is some dispute as to whether Paul himself made an intermediate second visit to Corinth that was abruptly cut short by conflict with a member of the Corinthian church who violently opposed him. He considered such a second visit, but, according to chapter 2, verse 4, and chapters 10 to 13, he sent Titus to Corinth with a strongly polemical “letter of tears” and anxiously awaited his return, going from Troas to Macedonia to meet him.

Paul had almost been in despair over the Corinthians, but Titus and the letter seemed to have restored the Corinthian church to order. Titus and some of his companions were then sent to take up the collection for the church at Jerusalem, a sign of Christian mutual love and unity. He took with him Paul’s “letter of reconciliation,” which was written from Macedonia and which can be noted in chapter 1, verse 1, to chapter 2, verse 3; chapter 7, verses 5 and 6; and chapter 8. In chapter 8 the Macedonians are held up as an example of generosity. A similar section regarding the collection is in chapter 9, and the Achaeans (and probably their capital city, Corinth) were cited as an example to the Macedonians for generous giving. This was probably sent shortly before Paul’s third (and last) visit to Corinth. From Corinth Paul wrote to the Roman church a letter that shows no sign of difficulties with the Corinthians and that presumed the conveying of the collection to Jerusalem.

If the Corinthian controversy had been smoothed out, a question is raised as to why II Corinthians ends in the “letter of tears” rather than in the “letter of reconciliation.” This may be understood if the literary order of the several sections was arranged by a redactor who collected the fragments probably in the last decade of the 1st century. The redactor may have used a “form” amply illustrated in Christian writings of the late 1st and early 2nd century; one of the end-time expectations was that “false prophets would show signs and wonders to lead the elect astray,” and chapters 10–13 deal with “false prophets” and “servants of Satan.” Such warnings were placed at the end of writings of that time.

Several abrupt editorial seams that resulted from an arrangement of a letter of reconciliation, an apology on the nature of Paul’s apostolic authority, a polemic against opponents, two letters concerning the collection, and a possible non-Pauline insertion (in chapter 6, verse 14, to chapter 7, verse 1) can thus be understood. The reconciliation of chapters 1 and 7 is hardly in agreement with Paul’s elaborate defense of his ministry in chapter 2. Even more jarring to such a reconciliation is the polemic of chapters 10–13. These latter chapters are viewed as a substantial fragment of Paul’s “letter of tears,” after which the Corinthians disengaged themselves from outside agitators and caused them to leave. Such opponents, who are mentioned in chapter 11, verse 4, and who tried to attract the congregation away from Paul’s ideas, were probably Hellenized Jewish Christians from Palestine.

The outside agitators (who provoked the response of chapters 10–13) probably were Christians who imitated the Hellenistic-Jewish missionaries and had developed an elaborate propagandizing missionary theology and practices analogous to the missionary movements in the pagan world. Their goal was to prove the spiritual power of their own religion in conscious and aggressive competition with other religions, thus hoping to attract others and convert them to Christianity.

The major criteria for successful competition were affinity or identity with the ancient Mosaic traditions and objective manifestations of the current power of that tradition in the form of miraculous demonstrations. The link between the ancient traditions and the current careers of the itinerant missionaries was the record of Jesus as understood from the miracle stories of the Gospels—a demonstrated epiphany of the powers of the Spirit. These missionaries were seen as “divine men,” as were the heroes of old. Their miracles were to be imitated. Such traditions about Jesus as a wonder-worker might have been used by Paul’s opponents, with over-emphasis on such works as criteria of power.

That which Paul attacks as “bragging” or “boasting,” particularly the preaching of the so-called “super-apostles,” in chapter 11, verse 5, was probably understood by his opponents as no more than faithful testimony to, and a demonstration of, the spiritual powers of tradition as they perceived it in their own experiences. To them faithfulness to Jesus was primarily the acknowledgment of Jesus’ being the most powerful “divine man” and, secondarily, their establishment and maintenance of relationship to him through imitation in their powerful demonstrations and wondrous acts.

Paul (who in I Corinthians, chapter 1, had advocated the dialectic of the cross) would thus be discredited by miracle-working men like the opponents in II Corinthians. Paul’s credibility and validity as an Apostle came into question along with his Christology, which was a “theology of the cross.” Confronted with the challenge of the powerful “super-apostles,” Paul’s message could be distorted as hiding his own inability or incapacity—an apostle who dared not take money because, being an ineffective speaker and a weak person, he had nothing for which to ask payment. His defense was Paul’s first attempt to deal with these new problems caused by invading opponents who had undercut his authority.

Paul centred his defense around the issue most debated; true apostleship and his own sufficiency. Because he derived his ministry from God himself as a servant preaching not himself but Jesus Christ as Lord, no “peddler of God’s word or selling or recommendation is called for, but only the living record—i.e., the people brought to believe in Christ. Paul quickly alluded to his own weakness and “carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested…” (chapter 4, verse 10). Paul found his weakness one of the things that made him one with the Lord and that made his ministry a true ministry of Jesus Christ, who was crucified through weakness but lives by the power of God—as does his true apostle. This weakness seems to refer to a physical handicap of Paul’s (epilepsy?), the “thorn in the flesh” that interfered with his travel plans.

Paul placed his own apparent weakness, in which he proclaimed that God had manifested himself, against the boastings of the “super-apostles.” Unlike them, he strikes a non-heroic note. It is confidence in the power of Jesus’ Resurrection that produces glory for the Gospel message and final (eschatological) reward and recognition for the Apostle.

Though Paul may himself sound “enthusiastic,” his statements are made with a realistic assessment of the world, as demonstrated not least in the sufferings of Paul himself. Emphasis on God’s act of grace, however, makes Paul urge the Corinthians to accept him and to reach out to the promise of God’s salvation even in the present.

Paul’s defense of his apostleship and a following visit did not succeed. Agitation from outside opponents apparently increased and solidified. The “letter of tears” reflects this situation. Paul revealed himself personally, coming close to autobiographical statements. Paul spoke of himself only with theological purpose and as part of his tactical argument with his opponents concerning attitudes and conduct. His point was that a style of life is a reflection of an underlying theology. He demonstrated to his opponents that his work for the church is constructive, and that though he boasted of his ministry, he boasted only “of the Lord,” of the work Christ had done through him.

In his so-called fool’s speech, in which he blatantly asked the Corinthians to “bear with me in a little foolishness,” Paul adopted the technique of the mime of the street theatres of his times, consciously drawing on the laughter and mockery of his audience, but then he successfully reversed the scene and made his audience realize that in laughing at him they mocked themselves, thus revealing the perversion of their criteria of superiority. Paul used metaphorical images, identifying the congregation with the bride, Jesus as the bridegroom, himself as the best man, and Satan (the opponents) as the adulterer. The plot assumed a successful seduction, and the best man who recommended the bride stands disproven. Paul then pretended to try to shift this balance by bragging about himself and scolding both seducers and the seduced. He accepted no inferiority to the opponents—the seducers (“super-apostles”)—and claimed that they preached another Christ than the true Christ and brought another spirit and that he would accept no support from the church that was led astray.

In chapter 11, Paul continued to boast “as a fool,” claiming to have all the qualifications of his opponents, but that he was more truly a representative of Christ. This he explained ever more intensely in an ironic and almost sarcastic trend in the dialectic of the so-called fool’s speech. He boasted not of strength but of weakness—though he could boast of ecstatic experience as his opponents had—and that he had learned through bitter experience (possibly a chronic illness) that he must not exalt himself, but rather that he has been told through a word of Christ that his power is made perfect in weakness. In the enumeration of his qualifications, Paul has jested “as a fool” concerning his suffering, visions, miraculous heavenly travels, and oracles. Yet, it is clear that through Christ these modes of experience and communication have been transformed. Thus, Paul establishes that he is a true apostle and not inferior to the “super-apostles.”

Paul expressed his intention of visiting the congregation and told them that he desired to come not as a judge but as a father. Neither he nor Titus had or would deceive or take advantage of them. At this, the end of the “letter of tears,” Paul announced his possible third visit and revealed a definite fear that he might be forced to act as a judge of the congregation, which was increasingly falling away from the apostolic gospel. Paul, however, still hoped that reconciliation might be accomplished, that truth would prevail, and that his authority could be used for building up rather than destruction. He exhorted the community to keep peace and blessed them.

The “letter of reconciliation,” found in chapters 1, 2, and 7, assumed that Titus had returned with good news of the Corinthians, their eagerness to prove that they had amended their ways. Paul responded with a report of the consolation this had brought him and of the grave danger he had escaped (in prison in Ephesus). He exhorted the church at Corinth to remember the Christian message in love—of Paul for them and of the congregation for him. The shadow between Paul and the Corinthians had been dispersed, and Paul reaffirmed his constant and continuous concern for them and God’s love in Christ manifest in Baptism and the gift of the Spirit. Paul interceded for a man who had offended him and forgave him. Paul then told the Corinthians of his eagerness for Titus’ news of them that occasioned his special trip to Macedonia. This news brought joy and consolation; therefore, Paul urged the Corinthians again to forgive the man who had offended him.

Fragments of two letters concerning the collection for Jerusalem, a sign of unity of the church (chapter 8 especially being close to the “letter of reconciliation” and chapter 9, a fragment probably later than chapter 8), are signs that Paul’s relation to the Corinthians again became close and joyful. The collection was a bond of mutual and reciprocal relationship that reached its climax in thanksgiving and praise of God. For the whole church he exclaimed: “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”