The Argument of the Second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians

For the time when this Epistle was written, look the Argument of the epistle to the Romans: to wit, about the eighteenth year after his conversion, and our Lord's passion. because in the 11 chapter he maketh mention of 14 years, not only after his Conversion, as to the Galatians, but also after his rapt, which seemeth to have been when he was at Jerusalem Act. 9, 16. four years after his Conversion (Gal. 1, 18) in a trance or excess of mind, as he calleth it, Act. 22, 17. It was written at Troas (it is thought) and sent by Titus, as we read chap. 8.

It is for the most part against those false Apostles whom in the first part of the epistle to the Corinthians he noted, or rather spared, but now is constrained to deal openly against them, and to defend both his own person which they sought to bring into contempt, making way thereby to the correption of the Corinthians, and withal to maintain the excellency of the Ministry and Ministers of the new Testament, above which they did magnify the Ministry of the old Testament: bearing themselves very high because they were Jews.

Against these therefore S. Paul avoucheth the preeminent power of his Ministry, by which power also he giveth a pardon to the incestuous fornicator whom he excommunicated in the last Epistle, seeing now his penance, and again threateneth to come and excommunicate those that had grievously sinned and remained impenitent. Two chapters also he interposeth of the contributions to the church of Jerusalem, mentioned in his last, exhorting them to do liberally, and also to have all in a readiness against his coming.