t risen from the dead, then is our preaching vain and
your faith is also vain."

6. Parting directions, exhortations, and salutations
(ch. 16).

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

+Occasion and Purpose.+--Paul was quite anxious about
the reception of his first letter by the Corinthian church.
Not long after its dispatch he sent Titus (2 Cor. 2:13) to
see how it was received and to note whether the strife of
parties had ceased, the incestuous person had been dealt
with, and other matters properly adjusted. While Titus
was absent on this mission Paul left Ephesus on account
of the riot made by Demetrius and his fellows (Acts
19:23-41; 20:1) and went over into Macedonia (Acts
20:1). On the way, at Troas, he expected to meet Titus
and was greatly disappointed in not seeing him (2
Cor. 2:12-13). It is evident that he met Titus in Macedonia
and received from him the report of the condition of the
Corinthian church and the manner in which his first letter
had been received and acted upon (2 Cor. 7:5-16).
Again it is evident, from the Epistle, that Titus brought
back the encouraging news to the Apostle that the
incestuous person had been dealt with and had repented, and
that, as a whole, the church stood loyally by him, but still
there were some who were making trouble. It was this
report that was the occasion of the Second Epistle.
Prof. G. B. Stevens says in regard to this letter, It reflects
the mingled joy and grief of the Apostle. The earlier
chapters are predominately cheerful and commendatory,
the latter mainly sorrowful and severe. In the light of
these facts the letter may be described as threefold: First,
to encourage and instruct the church (1-7). Second,
to induce the Corinthians to make a collection for the
poor Judean churches (8-9). Third, to defend the
writer's apostolic authority against the calumnies of his
enemies (10-13).

+Place and Time.+--There are a number of references
by the Apostle which show that this Epistle was written
in Macedonia (1:15, 16; 2:12, 13; 8:1; 9:2) and shortly
after Paul came out of Asia (1:8, compare Acts 20:1,
2). The time probably 57 A.D., the same year in which
the First Epistle was written.

+Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+

1. Salutation (1:1, 2)

2. Paul's principles and ways of working (1:3-7:16).
In these chapters the Apostle endeavors to
remove any feeling of bitterness which may have been
produced in the Corinthian church by his dea