Exam 20: Paul and the Crises of His Churches: 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon

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After Paul established the church at Corinth, he left to continue his mission elsewhere and subsequently wrote a letter, no longer extant, dealing with some ethical problems that had arisen in the church. At some point, the Corinthians sent a letter to Paul, either in response to his letter or to ask for more instruction. Paul then wrote 1 Corinthians, in which he outlined ethical behaviors and told the community that he hoped to visit them soon. When he returned to Corinth, however, Paul was mistreated, and he left angry. Shortly after his departure, a group of missionaries (the "superapostles") arrived and attacked Paul's character. Paul then wrote a third letter (2 Corinthians 10-13) in which he attacked the position of the superapostles and the person who humiliated him. He threatened to visit Corinth again in judgment. The Corinthians apparently heeded Paul's warnings and punished the person who had insulted him. In response to this news, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 1-9, a conciliatory letter in which he reestablished a relationship with his church.