From June 8-20 (2 weeks) we are going to read parts of 2 Corinthians. The series will be broken on June 11 and 19 because of two feasts, the one of St. Barnabas, and the other of the Sacred Heart; here different bible passages will be given. If there were no feast days, 2 Cor. 3:15 -4:1.3-6 will be read on Thursday 10th Week and 2 Corinthians 11:18-21-30 on Friday, 11th Week.

What we call “Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians” is not one letter but at least three or more. These letters have been “stitched” together to look as if it were only one. There are elements in the letter however that force us to admit the probability of more than one letter. 2 Cor. 8-9 is clearly one letter (or two) distinguishable from the rest of the epistle by subject matter. Then there is what Paul calls the “severe letter” (or parts of it) — 2 Cor. 10-13 — of which Titus is the carrier. Then the letter of reconciliation in 2 Cor. 1-7.

We know from 1 Corinthians that there was a problem in the Corinthian community. The letter that Paul sent through Timothy did not solve the problem; in fact, it escalated. In that letter (1 Corinthians 16:5-7) Paul promised another visit which he was not able to keep. This caused further tensions in his relationship with the Corinthians. Later, Paul did make a quick visit to Corinth but he was not received well by the Corinthians influenced by new missionaries (the “superapostles” of 2 Corinthians 11:5; 12:11) who discredited Paul’s credentials. This was Paul’s “painful visit.” Paul went back to Ephesus and wrote his “severe letter”, the letter “of many tears” (2 Corinthians 2:3-4.9;7:8-12). The letter was a call to repentance and reconciliation and Titus carried the letter to Corinth. Paul, wishing to learn about the reaction of the Corinthians, became anxious of Titus when he did not return on time. Restless, Paul decided to meet Titus. He went as far as Troas, but not finding Titus there, proceeded to Macedonia where the two finally meet. Titus was the bearer of good news now. The crisis at Corinth has been resolved. So Paul wrote his letter of reconciliation (cc. 1-7). Before the crisis, Paul had been preparing a letter of collection for the mother Church in Jerusalem. Because of the crisis, however, he had to defer sending the letter. Now that the crisis has been resolved, Paul can now ask for collections (see cc. 8-9). These letters were written around 57 AD.

If we are going to keep in mind the above reconstruction of events, we should be reading 2 Corinthians according to the following order:

• 2 Cor. 10-13, part of the “letter of tears” which Paul writes after he was badly received by the Corinthians and the new missionaries.
• 2 Cor. 1-7, the letter of reconciliation which Paul writes after finding out from Titus that his severe letter has helped resolve the crisis
• 2 Cor. 8-9, the collection letter

In the lectionary, selections from these letters are distributed in the order of the chapters in which they are marked. Below is a table that shows when in the following days we are going to read a certain portion of 2 Corinthians; an additional column is given for identifying which of the above letters the passage read belongs to.

Today’s reading comes from the thanksgiving part of the letter of reconciliation. Paul is relieved that the crisis is over and more, the Corinthians wish to reconcile with him. In verses 3-7 one finds Paul’s heart hanging as it were out of his sleeves. If our reconstruction above is probable, then the sufferings that Paul endured is the pain he endured during his “painful visit” and the anxiety he had over the effect of his “severe letter”. Since the crisis is passed and he anticipates reconciliation with his community, Paul can now bless God for this consolation.

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