Paul did not visit because he received word that his first letter had already corrected the Corinthians' problems, so he wrote a second letter to prepare them for his eventual visit.
Paul had genuinely planned to come twice, but when he learned that his first letter had accomplished its purpose, he chose to send a second letter instead of an immediate personal visit. Scripture says he stayed away to spare them (2 Corinthians 1:23). Les Feldick teaches that the letter was preparatory so Paul could later come in love and meekness rather than with harsh measures.
2 Corinthians 1:23 — This verse explicitly states Paul's reason: he did not come to Corinth in order to spare them.
2 Corinthians 1:15-16 — Paul describes his original plan to visit Corinth twice, showing his intention was genuine.
In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul openly explains his travel plans and his change of them. He had intended to come to Corinth that they might have a second benefit, then pass through Macedonia and return, and from there be brought on his way toward Judea (2 Corinthians 1:15-16). He asks, 'When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?' (2 Corinthians 1:17). Then he reveals the real reason: 'Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth' (2 Corinthians 1:23). In his first letter he had said: 'But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will' (1 Corinthians 4:19). So the Bible shows his absence was not fickleness or fear but a deliberate, loving restraint.
Les Feldick explains that Paul had intended to go personally to Corinth, but the message came to him that his first letter had accomplished its work. The man involved in gross immorality had been dealt with and was back in fellowship, so Paul did not need to go and 'come down' on the congregation in person. Instead, he wrote this second letter. Les sees the letter as preparatory: Paul wanted to come to them in love and meekness, not with harsh measures, so he wrote to get them ready for his eventual arrival. Les also stresses that Paul did not come with 'fickle language' — everything he said was prompted by the Holy Spirit and motivated by the love of Christ.
Paul had planned a double visit: to stop in Corinth both before and after Macedonia (2 Corinthians 1:15-16). When he did not come as expected, he answered accusations by insisting he had not used lightness or allowed his purposes to be according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 1:17). He then states plainly that he called God as a witness that he stayed away to spare them (2 Corinthians 1:23). In 1 Corinthians 4:18-19, he rebukes those who were puffed up, saying he would come shortly if the Lord willed.
Les shows that Paul received a report that his first letter had already corrected the major problems in Corinth, so a personal visit was not necessary at that moment. Instead, Paul wrote the second letter to encourage those who had corrected their ways. This letter was also preparatory, giving Paul a way to appeal to them in love and meekness when he later came, rather than having to take harsh measures.
Paul strongly denied any fickleness. He asked, 'did I use lightness?' and affirmed that his purposes were not according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 1:17). Les reinforces this, noting that Paul's words were prompted by the Holy Spirit and that the love of Christ constrained him (Clip 2). The Corinthians' assumption that Paul would never come was called being 'puffed up' (1 Corinthians 4:18), and Paul responded, 'I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will' (1 Corinthians 4:19).
First Letter Accomplished Its Work
Les teaches that Paul heard a report that his first letter had already corrected the problems at Corinth, so instead of making a personal visit he wrote a second follow-up letter.
Paul Insisted He Would Still Come
Les shows that the Corinthians were puffed up thinking Paul would never return, but Paul answered that he would come shortly if the Lord willed.
Not Fickle, But Holy Spirit-Directed
Les points out that Paul did not use fickle language; his words were prompted by the Holy Spirit and motivated by the love of Christ.
The Letter Prepared Them for Love and Meekness
Les explains that Paul wrote the second letter to prepare the Corinthians so that when he eventually visited, he could come in love and meekness rather than in harshness.
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen? — 2 Corinthians 1 Explained
But now remember this is written two years after the letter to the Galatians. And so I'm going to go back to that in a little bit to show you that what he dealt with in the Galatian letter had already taken place quite some time before he writes this letter of 2 Corinthians.
Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained
And as a result of that of course, Paul makes it very plain that the Corinthians were still so carnal. They were not a spiritual church like Ephesus or Philippi, but they were a church beset with all kinds of problems. Now the first ones we noticed of course were their divisions.
What Most Christians Miss About Grace — 1 Corinthians Explained
Well, now first I'm going to have you All with me? First Corinthians now, chapter 7, verse 1. Now most people just read over this and don't even catch what it's saying. He says, "...now concerning the things whereof you wrote unto me." Now what do you suppose they wrote? Questions! They had questions, and they were things that were popping up in the Corinthian church, and they didn't know how to h…
What the Bible Really Says About Judging Other Christians
As I mentioned a couple of programs ago, Paul is addressing them in response to a letter that they had written to him asking, how are they supposed to deal with these things? And consequently, by Holy Spirit inspiration, Paul is just unloading. And of course the reason is that the things that were a problem in Corinth in A.D. 60 are still the same.
2 Corinthians 1:15: And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
Paul's original intention was to visit the Corinthians twice, giving them a second benefit.
2 Corinthians 1:16: And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
This details Paul's planned itinerary, showing he meant to visit Corinth on both legs of his journey.
2 Corinthians 1:17: When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
Paul denies that his change of plans was fickle or according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 1:23: Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
Paul explicitly states he delayed his visit to spare the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 4:18: Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
Some Corinthians proudly assumed Paul would never come back.
1 Corinthians 4:19: But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
Paul promised he would come if the Lord willed, showing his intention remained.
Paul had planned to visit twice, but he received word that his first letter had already corrected the problems in Corinth. He then wrote 2 Corinthians as a follow-up instead of an immediate personal visit, intending to come later in love and meekness.
Paul stayed away to spare the Corinthians from harsh discipline. He wanted to avoid coming down on them in severity, so he delayed his visit until the letter could prepare them.
Yes. Paul said 'some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you' (1 Cor 4:18). Les notes they were across the sea and doubted Paul would make the effort, but Paul promised he would come if the Lord willed.
No. Paul denied using lightness or fleshly purposes, and Les teaches that everything Paul said was prompted by the Holy Spirit and motivated by love for Christ.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22