When Was 2 Corinthians Written?
Quick Summary
Second Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul around 55–56 CE, within a short period following First Corinthians. Most scholars agree the letter was composed from Macedonia after Paul experienced significant conflict and reconciliation with the Corinthian church. Its timing explains the emotional intensity of the letter, its concern with Paul’s apostolic authority, and its sustained reflection on suffering, reconciliation, and ministry.
Introduction
Second Corinthians is one of the most personal documents in the New Testament. Paul writes not as a distant theologian but as a wounded pastor, defending his integrity, explaining his actions, and reaffirming his love for a congregation that had deeply tested him.
Dating this letter helps explain why it sounds so different from First Corinthians. Where the earlier letter is corrective and instructional, Second Corinthians is raw, defensive, and at times deeply vulnerable. These tonal differences make sense once the historical moment of the letter is understood.
Paul’s Ongoing Relationship with Corinth
Paul founded the Corinthian church during his second missionary journey, remaining there for about eighteen months (Acts 18:1–18). After his departure, the relationship became strained.
Between First and Second Corinthians, Paul appears to have made a painful visit to Corinth and written a severe letter that no longer survives (2 Corinthians 2:1–4; 7:8). Second Corinthians reflects the aftermath of that confrontation.
The letter is best read as a response to both reconciliation and lingering opposition.
Evidence from Paul’s Travel Movements
Acts places Paul in Ephesus during the writing of First Corinthians. After leaving Ephesus, Paul traveled through Troas and into Macedonia (Acts 20:1).
Second Corinthians was almost certainly written during this Macedonian period. Paul describes arriving in Macedonia burdened with anxiety until Titus brought encouraging news from Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:5–7).
This situates the letter firmly after First Corinthians and before Paul’s eventual return to Corinth.
Internal Chronological Markers
Several internal details help establish the date.
Paul references the collection for Jerusalem that he had already begun organizing (2 Corinthians 8–9), a project also mentioned in Romans. This places the letter during a relatively narrow window in Paul’s ministry.
He also anticipates a forthcoming visit to Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:14; 13:1), which Acts confirms later occurred.
These markers align best with a date around 55–56 CE.
The Composite Nature of the Letter
Many scholars argue that Second Corinthians reflects multiple letters or sections written close together.
The sharp tonal shift between chapters 1–9 and chapters 10–13 has led to the suggestion that the latter reflects a more confrontational phase of Paul’s correspondence.
Whether composite or unified, the material reflects a compressed time frame rather than decades of development.
Historical Context of Conflict
The Corinthian church faced challenges from rival teachers who questioned Paul’s authority, rhetorical skill, and legitimacy as an apostle.
Paul responds by redefining apostolic leadership as marked by weakness, suffering, and faithfulness rather than public prestige.
This theological emphasis fits well within the early to mid-50s CE, when Christian leadership models were still being contested.
Theological Themes and Their Development
Second Corinthians advances several major theological themes:
Ministry shaped by suffering
Reconciliation as the heart of the gospel
The paradox of strength through weakness
New covenant identity in Christ
These themes build upon earlier letters while moving toward the fuller theological synthesis seen in Romans.
Relationship to Romans
Second Corinthians predates Romans but anticipates some of its concerns.
The emphasis on grace, reconciliation, and God’s initiative prepares the way for Paul’s later systematic reflection.
Dating Second Corinthians shortly before Romans highlights the rapid development of Paul’s thought rather than a long evolutionary process.
Why the Date of 2 Corinthians Matters
Knowing when Second Corinthians was written helps readers understand its emotional force.
Paul is writing amid unresolved tension, personal pain, and cautious hope.
The letter is not abstract theology but lived theology, shaped by conflict and restored relationship.
Recognizing its mid-50s context allows the letter to be read as a testimony to resilience, reconciliation, and faithful ministry under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was 2 Corinthians written after 1 Corinthians?
Yes. It was written shortly afterward, likely within a year.
Where was Paul when he wrote it?
Most likely in Macedonia.
Is this Paul’s final letter to Corinth?
No. Romans suggests Paul later spent time in Corinth again.
Does the letter reflect persecution?
It reflects personal opposition more than formal persecution.
Why is the letter so emotional?
It follows conflict, reconciliation, and challenges to Paul’s authority.
Works Consulted
Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament, Yale University Press. Paul Barnett, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians, NICNT. Margaret M. Mitchell, Paul and the Rhetoric of Reconciliation. The New Oxford Annotated Bible, NRSV.
