Paul's third missionary journey
45 - Second letter to the Corinthians
Paul in chains thinks of communities.
There is much controversy regarding the second letter to the Corinthians. The version that has come down to us is probably composed of several letters, including the “letter in tears”. Paul continues to respond to the agitations of the community of Corinth, defends his apostolic ministry and returns to the collection in favor of the faithful of Jerusalem.
Informed of the difficulties of the community, it seems that Paul made a brief visit to Corinth, during which painful incidents are said to have occurred. Returning to Ephesus, he wrote his “letter in tears” which we find, at least in part, in chapters 10 to 13 of the current epistle.
The Judeo-Christians of Jerusalem who undertook systematic opposition against Paul, present themselves as the true apostles, contest the validity of his mission and attack his person, his ideas and his work. They present themselves as prestigious missionaries, “arch-apostles” while Paul calls them “false apostles”. They claim to have known Jesus and shine with their mystical experiences. They have greater eloquence than Paul and, unlike the latter, demand substantial fees from the communities where they stay. Paul opposes their ambitions with a style of mission marked by the Cross.
The tactics of the adversaries are simple: inflate their authority as representatives of Jerusalem, diminish the person and work of Paul and impose the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Moreover, this tactic has already borne fruit in other Churches founded by the Apostle. These attacks provoke a violent reaction from Paul in this Epistle and in the Epistles to the Galatians and the Romans.
This letter was probably written in Macedonia, in 54-55, where Titus joined Paul. This time he brings good news. The Corinthians are now much more positive towards the Apostle. Paul is reassured and decides to write again. The main elements are as follows: The “false apostles” of Jerusalem only seek their profit. They demand high rates while Paul always offered his ministry for free and was never dependent on anyone.
If his rivals boast of their mystical experiences, Paul is not left out. He recalls the “visions and revelations” that the Lord granted him. But he does not insist because “the power of God is displayed in weakness.”
The true apostles are the servants of a new Alliance, their trials identify them with the destiny of Jesus and they are the ambassadors of a reconciliation offered to the world by God.
Frustrated by the attacks of his adversaries, Paul wants to come to a decisive settling of scores. The justification of his apostolic authority is therefore the essential aim of this letter. The sowers of discord present themselves with a letter of recommendation issued by the leadership of Jerusalem. Paul responds that he does not need letters of recommendation: “Our letter is you, Corinthians; you are a letter from Christ, written in luminous characters, so that everyone can know and read it.”
Paul was accused of being arrogant, of writing impertinent epistles, of being a false brother hungry for glory. Under the mask of Greek irony, Paul plays the role of the braggart that has just been attributed to him. Massive blows then fell on his detractors. These people accuse Paul of boasting, of selfishness, of a spirit of domination, while they themselves proclaim their friendship with the great ones of Jerusalem, walking around like lords, running from house to house, inviting themselves , speaking loudly while punching those who contradict them in the face. In a very noble manner, Paul avoids naming those who would have charged them with this mission of demolition, although, behind the actions of the adversaries, we can guess the shadow of important figures, whose emissaries abuse and distort the thought.
The true apostle stands out for his dedication, by admitting a weakness who likens it to destiny of the Crucified.
Paul recognizes himself as weak so that the Corinthians open their eyes to their own weakness. Let them stop letting themselves be deceived by parade preachers, and let them recognize in themselves the old man who must make way for the new man. May they remember Jesus who made himself poor for them, even though he was rich. We are like fragile clay that contains great treasure. If the first letter to the Corinthians is the richest in terms of thought, the second is the most passionate of all. Happy controversy which forces the accused to reveal himself and paint the portrait of the true servant of the Gospel!
Between the two main parts of this letter is inserted a passage concerning the collection for Jerusalem (ch. 8 and 9). This great work of charity was very important for Paul who wanted to maintain ties of friendship with the mother community. The Corinthians themselves had the idea. After talking about the collection, Paul goes on the attack again. He writes: “But am I inferior to those whom you call “arch-apostles” and whom I call “pseudo-apostles”. They exploit the community; they think they shine with their titles and their flashy rhetoric. The true apostle, for his part, is distinguished by his dedication, by the admission of a weakness which assimilates him to the destiny of the Crucified.
In 12:7-9, Paul mentions a thorn in his flesh. The hypothesis of a chronic illness is often mentioned. But, in the Bible, “the thorn” designates the enemies of Israel (Numbers 33, 55). Paul sees this as the action of an “angel of Satan”. However, it is his adversaries whom he has just characterized as ministers of Satan (2 Cor 11, 13-15). Already in the 4th century, John Chrysostom thought that the thorn in question represented the rivals who challenged Paul's preaching.
Titus and probably Luke and Aristarchus took this letter to Corinth. It seems that it was very well received by the Corinthians. This was the Apostle's testament to this Church which he loved deeply.
The year of the 2nd letter to the Corinthians coincides with the death of Emperor Claudius in 54. Agrippina, his second wife, had him poisoned. She had previously had Nero, the son of her first marriage, adopted by the man she was going to put to death. At seventeen, Nero was proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. Thus begins, illegally, because Claudius had a legitimate son, Britannicus, the reign of one of the most bloodthirsty despots in history. In Ephesus, no soothsayer would dare predict that Nero will have Britannicus poisoned and his mother put to death, before encamping, in an episode that will sicken the Romans themselves, by massacring Christians. A breach opens in the grandeur of Rome.
45 - Second letter to the Corinthians
Paul in chains thinks of communities.
There is much controversy regarding the second letter to the Corinthians. The version that has come down to us is probably composed of several letters, including the “letter in tears”. Paul continues to respond to the agitations of the community of Corinth, defends his apostolic ministry and returns to the collection in favor of the faithful of Jerusalem.
Informed of the difficulties of the community, it seems that Paul made a brief visit to Corinth, during which painful incidents are said to have occurred. Returning to Ephesus, he wrote his “letter in tears” which we find, at least in part, in chapters 10 to 13 of the current epistle.
The Judeo-Christians of Jerusalem who undertook systematic opposition against Paul, present themselves as the true apostles, contest the validity of his mission and attack his person, his ideas and his work. They present themselves as prestigious missionaries, “arch-apostles” while Paul calls them “false apostles”. They claim to have known Jesus and shine with their mystical experiences. They have greater eloquence than Paul and, unlike the latter, demand substantial fees from the communities where they stay. Paul opposes their ambitions with a style of mission marked by the Cross.
The tactics of the adversaries are simple: inflate their authority as representatives of Jerusalem, diminish the person and work of Paul and impose the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Moreover, this tactic has already borne fruit in other Churches founded by the Apostle. These attacks provoke a violent reaction from Paul in this Epistle and in the Epistles to the Galatians and the Romans.
This letter was probably written in Macedonia, in 54-55, where Titus joined Paul. This time he brings good news. The Corinthians are now much more positive towards the Apostle. Paul is reassured and decides to write again. The main elements are as follows: The “false apostles” of Jerusalem only seek their profit. They demand high rates while Paul always offered his ministry for free and was never dependent on anyone.
If his rivals boast of their mystical experiences, Paul is not left out. He recalls the “visions and revelations” that the Lord granted him. But he does not insist because “the power of God is displayed in weakness.”
The true apostles are the servants of a new Alliance, their trials identify them with the destiny of Jesus and they are the ambassadors of a reconciliation offered to the world by God.
Frustrated by the attacks of his adversaries, Paul wants to come to a decisive settling of scores. The justification of his apostolic authority is therefore the essential aim of this letter. The sowers of discord present themselves with a letter of recommendation issued by the leadership of Jerusalem. Paul responds that he does not need letters of recommendation: “Our letter is you, Corinthians; you are a letter from Christ, written in luminous characters, so that everyone can know and read it.”
Paul was accused of being arrogant, of writing impertinent epistles, of being a false brother hungry for glory. Under the mask of Greek irony, Paul plays the role of the braggart that has just been attributed to him. Massive blows then fell on his detractors. These people accuse Paul of boasting, of selfishness, of a spirit of domination, while they themselves proclaim their friendship with the great ones of Jerusalem, walking around like lords, running from house to house, inviting themselves , speaking loudly while punching those who contradict them in the face. In a very noble manner, Paul avoids naming those who would have charged them with this mission of demolition, although, behind the actions of the adversaries, we can guess the shadow of important figures, whose emissaries abuse and distort the thought.
The true apostle stands out for his dedication, by admitting a weakness who likens it to destiny of the Crucified.
Paul recognizes himself as weak so that the Corinthians open their eyes to their own weakness. Let them stop letting themselves be deceived by parade preachers, and let them recognize in themselves the old man who must make way for the new man. May they remember Jesus who made himself poor for them, even though he was rich. We are like fragile clay that contains great treasure. If the first letter to the Corinthians is the richest in terms of thought, the second is the most passionate of all. Happy controversy which forces the accused to reveal himself and paint the portrait of the true servant of the Gospel!
Between the two main parts of this letter is inserted a passage concerning the collection for Jerusalem (ch. 8 and 9). This great work of charity was very important for Paul who wanted to maintain ties of friendship with the mother community. The Corinthians themselves had the idea. After talking about the collection, Paul goes on the attack again. He writes: “But am I inferior to those whom you call “arch-apostles” and whom I call “pseudo-apostles”. They exploit the community; they think they shine with their titles and their flashy rhetoric. The true apostle, for his part, is distinguished by his dedication, by the admission of a weakness which assimilates him to the destiny of the Crucified.
In 12:7-9, Paul mentions a thorn in his flesh. The hypothesis of a chronic illness is often mentioned. But, in the Bible, “the thorn” designates the enemies of Israel (Numbers 33, 55). Paul sees this as the action of an “angel of Satan”. However, it is his adversaries whom he has just characterized as ministers of Satan (2 Cor 11, 13-15). Already in the 4th century, John Chrysostom thought that the thorn in question represented the rivals who challenged Paul's preaching.
Titus and probably Luke and Aristarchus took this letter to Corinth. It seems that it was very well received by the Corinthians. This was the Apostle's testament to this Church which he loved deeply.
The year of the 2nd letter to the Corinthians coincides with the death of Emperor Claudius in 54. Agrippina, his second wife, had him poisoned. She had previously had Nero, the son of her first marriage, adopted by the man she was going to put to death. At seventeen, Nero was proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. Thus begins, illegally, because Claudius had a legitimate son, Britannicus, the reign of one of the most bloodthirsty despots in history. In Ephesus, no soothsayer would dare predict that Nero will have Britannicus poisoned and his mother put to death, before encamping, in an episode that will sicken the Romans themselves, by massacring Christians. A breach opens in the grandeur of Rome.