Why did Paul write to the Corinthians with tears and anguish of heart?
Paul wrote with anguish of heart and many tears because the Corinthian believers, though saved by grace, were still failing and dipping back into their former pagan lifestyle. His purpose was not to grieve them but to assure them of his abundant love and deep concern for their spiritual victory.
Les explains that Paul wrote with anguish of heart and many tears not to grieve the Corinthians, but so they might know the love he had for them more abundantly. Despite all their failures contrary to his teaching and doctrines, Paul never lost his love for them. The early church was in constant battle, and these believers had come out of abject paganism with no moral foundations, no concept of the one true Creator God, and no Old Testament like Israel. They had recently heard the gospel of God's saving grace and were set at liberty, yet they had not fully consummated all of the grace of God that would give them victory over their past lifestyle. They were still dipping back into their old lifestyle, and this grieved the apostle. But understanding their circumstances, he knew you cannot expect these people to all of a sudden live like Peter, James, and John did; it would take time.
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
How did Paul write his letter to the Corinthians?
Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians out of much affliction and anguish of heart, with many tears, not from overemphasis but from a broken heart over what he heard from the congregation. It was as if written with a quill dipped in tears because their situation grieved him deeply.
Was Paul exaggerating when he said he wrote with many tears and anguish of heart?
No, Paul was not exaggerating. He wrote out of much affliction and anguish of heart, with many tears, because his heart was broken over what he heard from the Corinthian congregation. His sorrow was real, not overemphasis, as he labored for their growth and joy in Christ.