Yes—the Corinthians responded by correcting the major problems Paul raised, though some opposition to his apostleship remained.
By the time Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, Les says the message had reached him that his first letter had accomplished its work. The Corinthians dealt with the gross immorality and the offender was back in fellowship. Yet Paul still had to defend his apostleship against snide remarks coming out of Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:1 — It records that the Corinthians had written to Paul, which is what started this correspondence.
1 Corinthians 1:12 — It shows the factions among the Corinthians that Paul had to address.
1 Corinthians 5:9 — It connects to the immorality issue the Corinthians later corrected.
Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written after the congregation had written to him. In 1 Corinthians 7:1 he says, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman." In 1 Corinthians 8:1 he raises another subject they had asked about: "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." The Scripture also records the divisions that made correction necessary. 1 Corinthians 1:12 says, "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." Paul also reminds them of prior instruction about immorality in 1 Corinthians 5:9: "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators."
Les describes Paul's first letter to the Corinthians as "just a constant upbraiding and a reproving" because they were a carnal church with problems like no other congregation. They had written to Paul with a series of questions, and his letter answered those questions while also correcting their carnality, divisions, and immorality. By the time of 2 Corinthians, Les says Paul had received word that his first letter had accomplished its work. The congregation had dealt with the person involved in gross immorality, and that person was evidently back in fellowship. Les says the Corinthians had "seemingly corrected their problems." Still, Les notes that Paul had to defend his apostleship because of snide remarks coming out of Corinth attacking him. The first letter was not ignored, but opposition to Paul's authority lingered.
According to Les, yes. He says news had reached Paul that the first letter had accomplished its work. The congregation had dealt with the gross immorality, and the offending person was evidently back in fellowship. Les describes them as having "seemingly corrected their problems."
While many of the earlier problems had been corrected, Paul still had to defend his apostleship when he wrote 2 Corinthians. Les says snide remarks were coming out of Corinth attacking the apostle, and Paul was heartbroken by some of the things being spoken about him.
The Corinthians did not simply receive Paul's first letter; they had first written to him. Les points to 1 Corinthians 7:1—"concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me"—and says they had a whole series of questions about problems they did not know how to handle. Paul answered those questions while also reproving their carnality and divisions.
The First Letter Was Constant Upbraiding
Les explains that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to the same congregation he had constantly reproved in 1 Corinthians, showing how severe that first letter was.
The First Letter Accomplished Its Work
Les says Paul learned that his first letter had accomplished its work: the Corinthians dealt with the gross immorality and the offender was back in fellowship.
Snide Remarks Against Paul's Apostleship
Les says 2 Corinthians is a follow-up letter in which Paul defends his apostleship against snide remarks and hurtful attacks coming out of Corinth.
Divisions Over Leaders
Les recounts the divisions in Corinth—some followed Paul, some Apollos, some Peter, and some Christ—which Paul had to address.
A Letter in Response to Questions
Les explains that everything Paul covered in 1 Corinthians was in response to the congregation's questions, and those questions were rooted in problems.
Recent Converts from Paganism
Les says the Corinthians had recently come out of a pagan background and sent Paul a series of questions that he answers one by one.
The Corinthians Wrote to Paul
Les points to 1 Corinthians 7:1—"concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me"—as proof that the Corinthians wrote Paul their questions.
The Same Problems Today
Les notes Paul was responding to the Corinthians' letter by Holy Spirit inspiration, and their problems are still the same ones believers face today.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Paul explicitly confirms that the Corinthians had written to him with questions, which prompted his first letter.
1 Corinthians 8:1: Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Paul moves to another subject the Corinthians had written about, showing their questions were part of the letter.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
This verse records the divisions among the Corinthians that Paul had to reprove.
1 Corinthians 5:9: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators.
Paul references a previous letter about immorality, connecting to the problem the Corinthians later corrected.
According to Les, the first letter accomplished its work. The Corinthians dealt with the gross immorality Paul mentioned, and the person involved was evidently back in fellowship. Les says they had seemingly corrected their problems.
It was a follow-up to the first letter. Paul wanted to encourage the Corinthians who had corrected their problems, but he also needed to defend his apostleship against snide remarks and attacks coming out of Corinth.
Les says it was the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches Paul had anything to do with. Their problems included divisions, gross immorality, and many questions they did not know how to handle.
Watch the Teaching: Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen? — 2 Corinthians 1 Explained