How Many Letters Did Paul Write to the Corinthians?

While reading through 1 and 2 Corinthians, one gets the impression that the church in Corinth was a very needy church. They had their own questions for Paul and a lot of issues that he had to address. This meant for frequent visits and correspondence, many of which are mentioned in these two letters. But the references to their correspondence raise questions, particularly related to the number of letters Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Let’s look at some of these references and try to see how scholars have sought to piece this information together. We’ve adapted the content of this post from the Chronological Study Bible (NKJV).

Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians

The letter of 2 Corinthians was written perhaps 6 months to a year after Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, possibly in A.D. 55 at the end of his long ministry in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). The Corinthian church required Paul’s continual care. Shortly after his founding mission in Corinth, he sent a letter instructing the church “not to keep company with sexually immoral people” (1 Cor. 5:9). Later, a delegation from Corinth came to Ephesus asking for Paul’s guidance; they returned, possibly carrying the letter of 1 Corinthians with them (1 Cor. 16:17–19). Timothy visited Corinth (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10, 11) and probably returned to Paul in Ephesus with news of opposition to Paul and continued division in the church.

“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.”

1 Corinthians 5:9

Such unchristian practices in Corinth required correction. Paul made a “sorrowful” visit (2 Cor. 1:23–2:1), which did not resolve these problems. He then sent a “severe” letter delivered to the Corinthians by Titus (2 Cor. 2:3–5). When finally Paul was reconciled to the church, he wrote to them both to celebrate their restored relationship and to have them prepare for yet another visit (2 Cor. 1:13–16).

“And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.”

2 Corinthians 2:3–5

Two Solutions to the Problem of Paul’s Letters

Scholars disagree over whether 2 Corinthians is a single letter, or was compiled from several shorter letters. Some think there were four letters: Paul’s “earlier” letter (1 Cor. 5:9); 1 Corinthians; the “severe” letter (2 Cor. 2:3); and 2 Corinthians. In this case, 1 Corinthians would have been the second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian church; and 2 Corinthians, at least the fourth. Thus, one option is to accept that 2 Corinthians was originally written as it now appears in the New Testament, and suppose that the “earlier” letter against sexual immorality and the “severe” letter have been lost.

An alternative is to suppose that the “earlier” letter, warning against sexual immorality, is part of 2 Corinthians. Similarly, the four final chapters (2 Cor. 10–13) are considered to be the so-called “severe” letter, the letter written “out of much affliction and anguish” (2 Cor. 2:4). Those favoring this option point to a marked contrast: the positive relationship between Paul and the Corinthians evidenced in the early chapters of 2 Corinthians versus Paul’s harsh attacks on some in Corinth in 2 Cor. 10–13.

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