After the revolt of the silversmiths (Acts 21/1) Paul abruptly left Ephesus. He now found himself for the third time on the way to Greece and this letter was dictated in Macedonia in the year 56.
The Apostle’s struggle not just for new Christians but also to keep people in Christ causes this letter to give an impression of severity.
Chapters 10 – 13 of this second Epistle to the Corinthians (in reality the fourth) probably originate from the lost “Letter of tears” and were inserted later.
This epistle has two themes:
1st The Apostleship in the Christian order of salvation
2nd The Apostle’s self defense