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2 Corinthians 2:13 – Paul’s Angst About Corinth
Why was Paul so restless about Corinth, so much so that he left a field ready to harvest? The answer is finally given in 7:6-7.
Theory 1 – Paul loved all the churches, those he founded and those he strengthened; those he visited and those he only wrote to (11:28). Someone suggested that while that is true, Paul loved the Corinthian church more than any other. Why when they caused him so much angst? Maybe the answer is as simple and complex as a parent who favors the troubled child over the perfect one (6:13). While we parents can rightfully say such is wrong; remember, Paul is human. Emotions are hard to control especially when you have fewer concerns over one, such as Philippi, than another, like Corinth. So while it might not be that Paul loved one “child” more than another; the evidence suggests he does spend more emotional energy on the Corinthians than any other.
“Corinth appeared to be in full revolt against him. Galatia was falling away to ‘another Gospel.’ He had narrowly escaped from the enraged populace of Ephesus – ‘wild beasts’ with whom he had long been fighting, and at whose mercy he had left his flock in that turbulent city. Under this continued strain of excitement and anxiety, his strength succumbed; he was seized with an attack of sickness with threatened to terminate his life.” (G.G. Findlay, via J. Sidlow Baxter, Expore the Book, v.6, p.122). When we are emotionally spent, mentally distressed, physically ill, when our hard work, goals and dreams seem to be falling apart all around us, and we are surrounded with unending bad news and possible failure, all our feelings are experienced at a greater level. Corinth’s possible defection would always be deeply concerning, but with everything else going on in Paul’s life, he could not bear waiting any longer. He had to know. Were they still faithful? Were they still on his side?
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