Where was Paul geographically when the Corinthians thought he would not come?
Paul was in western Turkey, at Ephesus, across the Aegean Sea from Greece. The context places him roughly 150 to 200 miles from Corinth, so the Corinthians assumed he would never make the sea voyage to visit and correct them again.
Les explains that Paul is across the Aegean Sea from Greece, over in western Turkey where Ephesus is still located and its ruins remain. Paul is probably 150 to 200 miles away from Corinth. The Corinthian believers were saying Paul would never show up again, and that he would not take the effort to take a ship across the Aegean and come dress them down. Paul says they are getting cocky and puffed up, thinking he will not come, but he says he is coming and will straighten things out. He will come shortly, if the Lord wills, and will know not the speech of them who are puffed up but their power.