When was 2 Corinthians written?

Paul mentions his own name eight times in his first epistle to the Corinthians but only twice in the second one (1:1; 10:1). Paul's authorship of both letters has been and still is nearly unanimously accepted even by critical researchers but some think that 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 7:1 and chapters 10 to 13 (the “four-chapter-letter”) have been written by Paul at different points of time and then later inserted. Allusion to this letter is made early on by Polycarp (c. 70 – 155); in the second half of the second century Athenagoras cites the letter as being apostolic; amongst others Irenaeus (c. 140 – 202) and Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 – 215) quote the letter by name.

It had been Paul's intention to visit Corinth himself (1 Corinthians 16:5, 6; 2 Corinthians 1:15) during his third missionary journey (about 54 – 58 AD) as soon as possible after sending the first letter. However, possibly due to Timothy having by then returned to Paul (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10; 2 Cor. 1;1) after delivering the letter and bringing sad news from Corinth Paul decided to give up his plan and instead sent Titus to Corinth first. Titus was to check the further development of the assembly in Corinth as well as to prepare the collection for the poor brethren in Judaea and Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:6; already mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

In the meantime Paul had left Ephesus (possibly because of the tumult described in Acts 19:23-41; see also 2 Corinthians 1:8). First he preached the gospel in Troas, then, not having had peace of mind to stay in Troas, he moved on to Macedonia where he met with Titus (2 Cor. 2:12-13; 7:6). Following his partly good, partly not so good reports Paul then wrote the second letter to the Corinthians from Macedonia (2 Corinthians 9:2-4) which was then probably taken by Titus to Corinth (2 Cor. 8:16-18). It is estimated this second letter was written at the end of the same year the first letter to the Corinthians had been written, i.e. 57 AD.

After the first epistle had been written and delivered to the Corinthians, Paul seemed to have been greatly troubled in his mind about how the church in Corinth would receive and treat his inspired communication. The first epistle had been written with many tears and deep soul-exercise. He knew that it would make them sorry, yet he was in doubt and unrest about it all. Titus had evidently been sent by the Apostle to Corinth to ascertain the truth about this matter and to find out what effect the first epistle had upon the Corinthians. Others think that Timotheus had first returned from Corinth and had brought very painful news, which greatly increased the anxiety of Paul and he sent, therefore, another letter through Titus to the Corinthians (the letter which is claimed was lost). However, this is only a conjecture.

At the time of writing this epistle, Paul had left the province Asia (2 Corinthians 1:8) where he had been in some great peril. In leaving Asia he had come by Troas , where the Lord had opened a door for him to preach the Gospel (2 Corinthians 2:12). In Troas he fully expected to meet Titus and receive the much longed for report from the Corinthian Church . "I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother" (2:13). He therefore sailed to Macedonia . It was in Macedonia where Titus met him and told Paul about his visit to Corinth . "For when we were come into Macedonia , our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more" (2 Corinthians 7:5-7). The tidings which Titus brought were in the main good tidings. They had mourned over the wrong which the first letter had pointed out and they had repented; however, it is also clear that not all had been settled. There were still his enemies who attacked him and they became evidently more bitter against him on account of the strong letter he had written to the church. He wrote therefore, this second epistle in which he expresses the comfort which the news of their repentance had brought him, but in which he also very strongly defends his personal character and his apostolic authority.

This establishes beyond controversy the fact that the epistle was written in Macedonia . The exact place can hardly be ascertained. The note at the end of the epistle "written from Philippi " is simply traditional. It is more likely that he spent some time in Thessalonica. The time when this second epistle was written must have been the early autumn of 57, A.D.

54-56.-Paul's Third Missionary Journey. He departs from Antioch-visits Galatia, Phrygia and reaches Ephesus, where he stays two years and three months. Here Paul separates the disciples from the Jewish synagogue (Acts 19:8, 10). Epistle to the Galatians written.

57.-(Spring) First Epistle to the Corinthians written. The tumult at Ephesus-Paul leaves for Macedonia (Acts 19:23; 20:1). [Autumn.] Second Epistle to the Corinthians written (2 Cor. 1:8 2:13-14, 7:5, 8:1, 9:1). Paul visits Illyricum-goes to Corinth-winters there (Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 16:6).

Paul started his third mission journey shortly after (around 54 – 58 AD; compare Acts 18:23 – 19:14). He came to Ephesus via Galatia and Phrygia in Asia Minor. This is where he remained for three years (Acts 20:31). He probably wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians towards the end of his stay there, which was in spring 57 AD. This epistle might have been handed over by Timothy (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10) but it is equally possible that Timothy went there later only (Acts 19:22). – There is a possibility that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Galatians from Ephesus, too. Actually the Apostle Paul had intended to travel to Corinth himself as soon as possible (1 Cor. 16:5-6; 2 Cor. 1:15). But he probably refrained from it because of the sad situation in Corinth (2 Cor. 1:15; 2:1) and sent Titus instead.

But then Paul left Ephesus (maybe because of the revolt described in Acts 19:22-41). He first preached the gospel in Troas (2 Cor. 2:12) but had no inner peace and proceeded to Macedonia (Acts 20:1; 2 Cor. 2:13). There he met Titus who was on his way back from Corinth (2 Cor. 7:5-6). From Macedonia Paul wrote the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the year 57 AD (2 Cor. 9:2-4) which he probably had delivered by Titus (2 Cor. 8:16-18). In Acts we read of one journey to Macedonia and Greece only (Acts 20:1-3) during which Paul obviously had been to Corinth and from where he wrote the Epistle to the Romans (57/58 AD). For in this epistle he mentions the fact that contributions had been made in Macedonia and Achaia for the saints in Judea which he now wanted to bring to Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-28). These statements go hand in hand with the ones in the Epistles to the Corinthians. The mention of Phebe (Romans 16:1-2) from Cenchrea (which was the harbour of Corinth) and of Gaius (Rom. 16:23; compare 1 Cor. 1:14) would indicate that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans shortly before leaving for Jerusalem when still at Corinth. His journey from Greece to Jerusalem is described in detail in Acts 20 to 21.

Macedonia, A.D. 57 (a few months after the former.)

The second epistle to the Corinthians was written not long after the first, and when the apostle was in Macedonia (2 Cor. 7), having gone there to meet Titus, who had been to Corinth to ascertain the present condition of the assembly in that city, and the effect made on the saints by Paul's former letter. In the former he had told them how to deal with the offender; in this one he stirs them up to forgive him, as really repentant.

More restricted in its range than the first epistle, which, though addressed primarily to the assembly in that city, takes in all professing Christians as well, this one, though written and sent to Corinth, was for the benefit also, we learn, of "all the saints which are in all Achaia;" for besides treating at length of Christian ministry (2 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 7:1), Paul herein writes of some things in which saints in Achaia were especially interested; viz., the collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, in which service the Macedonian saints had shone so brightly (8, 9), and the proof of his apostleship, which had been called in question at Corinth. Questions these were of more local interest than those treated of in the former epistle, yet not devoid of interest for saints in all time.

Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece were the sphere of Paul's second missionary journey. Having differed from Barnabas, because the latter wished to take John with them (who had left them on the first journey), Paul selected Silas for his companion, and departed with the full fellowship of the brethren. During part of this journey Timothy was one of the company. He abode a year and a half at Corinth, where he wrote the two EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS. He now visited Jerusalem at the feast, and returned to Antioch. He took his third missionary journey through Galatia and Phrygia. When he visited Ephesus he separated the disciples from the synagogue, and they met in the school of Tyrannus. At Ephesus he wrote the FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS, and probably the EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. After the tumult raised by Demetrius he went to Macedonia, and there wrote the SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. He again visited Corinth and wrote the EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

The first epistle was written whilst Paul was in great anxiety about the assembly at Corinth (2 Cor. 2:4), and whilst the work at Ephesus was progressing, despite the presence of many adversaries. (1 Cor. 16:9.) This, the second epistle, was written after the tumult raised by Demetrius the silversmith at Ephesus had ceased, and Paul had left Asia for Macedonia (Acts 20:1), and when Titus had rejoined him in that country with the welcome intelligence of the salutary effect of his former letter on the saints in the metropolis of the Roman province of Achaia; so his heart was full, both of God's delivering power exhibited towards himself, and of joy for the conscience-work in the saints at Corinth. (2 Cor. 7:4.) Hence we gather from these two epistles something of the exercises of Paul's heart, arising from the ministry to which he had been called, and of the sorrows and joys connected with it, to which he was no stranger. How he felt as he commenced his work in that city we read of in the former letter. (1 Cor. 2) His deep sorrow of heart, caused by the condition of the assembly (2 Cor. 2:4), and his fear as to the effect of his former letter (2 Cor. 7:4-9), coupled with the joy and relief that he experienced on learning from Titus how it had worked on them, we learn about in this second letter. Great as he was as an apostle, powerful as his letters were, uncompromising too as a champion for the truth of God, we are permitted in these epistles to see the man, the vessel, who felt keenly and deeply all that he was called to pass through, but who realized in proportion a joy and comfort such as one less exercised would never have known. It was no light thing to him that in places where he had been signally blessed, as Ephesus, Corinth, and Galatia, the enemy came in to make trouble and discord between him and the saints of God.

Outward privilegeBut no approvalConversion of Paularound 36 AD?First Mission Journeyaround 46 – 49 AD“Council of the Apostles”around 50 ADSecond Mission Journeyaround 51 – 54 ADFirst Epistle to Thessaloniansaround 52 ADSecond Epistle to Thessaloniansaround 52 AD(Epistle to Galatians?)around 52 ADThird Mission Journeyaround 54 – 58 ADFirst Epistle to Corinthiansaround 57 ADSecond Epistle to Corinthiansaround 57 AD(Epistle to Galatians?)around 57/58 ADEpistle to Romansaround 58 ADImprisonment in Jerusalemaround 58 ADCaptivity in Caesareaaround 58 – 60 ADJourney to Romearound 60/61 ADCaptivity in Romearound 61 – 63 ADEpistle to Ephesiansaround 61/62 ADEpistle to Colossiansaround 61/62 ADEpistle to Philemonaround 61/62 ADEpistle to Philippiansaround 63 ADRelease of Paularound 63 ADFirst Epistle to Timothyaround 63/64 ADEpistle to Titusaround 63/64 ADSecond Captivity in Romearound 66 – 67 ADSecond Epistle to Timothyaround 66/67 ADPaul's Deatharound 67 AD?

The fulfillment of verses 5 and 6 is found in Acts 20:1-3, so that evidently the three months he remained in Greece winter. From there he returned via Macedonia on the way Jerusalem. But of course the Second Epistle had also been written before the above was fulfilled. There could evidently have been therefore only a few months between the Epistles, the first likely in the spring, the latter in the fall. For he did not promise to come soon to Corinth, though when he did conic, he wanted to remain for a time. Meanwhile, he planned to remain at Ephesus till Pentecost. This date would likely be near the first of June.