This letter was written between 55 and 57 AD to answer the concerns of the Christians in Corinth who accused him of not living up to his promise to visit them. Paul had changed his mind for a good reason. He had stayed away from Corinth so that he would not seem to be too hard and demanding (1.23). He also wanted to see if they would follow his instructions about forgiving and comforting people who had sinned (2.5-11).
Paul reminds the Corinthians that God is generous and wants them to be just as generous in their giving to help the church in Jerusalem and Judea (8.1—9.15).
As a servant of God's new agreement (3.1-17), Paul is faithful in trying to bring people to God, even if it means terrible suffering for himself (4.1—6.13; 10.1—12.10).
It is an important message to believers that “God sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others." (5.18)
