What is the difference between Paul's purpose in 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians?
Paul's first letter to the Corinthians directly confronted their problems, while his second letter focused less on condemnation and more on correcting their ideas. The second letter was intended to straighten out their thinking rather than come down on them as the first letter did.
Les explains that the second letter was written to a carnal, immature Corinthian church. The first letter had come down hard on their problems, but in the second letter Paul is not condemning them so much as simply straightening out their ideas. Les also notes Paul was probably in northern Greece when he wrote it. This second letter then moves into instructions about Grace Age giving, beginning in 2 Corinthians 8:7, where Paul does not impose tithing.