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little doubtful, however, whether the Gentile churches kept the annual as well as the weekly feast of the Resurrection at this early date; see art. 'Calendar, The Christian,' in Hastings' DCG i. 256.

Ramsay (;S(. Paul the Trav. p. 276) thinks that we must date our Epistle some six months earlier, in the second autumn before St. Paul's arrest. The events alluded to In 2 Cor. require a long interval between the Epistles. Moreover, the Corinthians had begun the collection for the poor Jews 'a year ago' when St. Paul wrote 2 Cor. (8'" 9'), and it seems, therefore, that at least a year must have elapsed since the injunction of 1 Co 16'. It is suggested, however, that we should rather translate the phrase 'last year,' and that to one who used the Macedonian calendar, and who wrote in the autumn, 'last spring' would also be 'last year,' for the new year began in September. On the whole, however, the argument about the Easter festival seems to be precarious, and the conditions are probably better satisfied if a longer interval be allowed, and the First Epistle put about 18 months before St. Paul's arrest. The absolute, as opposed to the'relative, date will depend on our view of the rival schemes given in art. Chronology OP THE NT, § iii. A. J. Maclean.

COBINTHUNS, SECOND EPISTLE TO.— 1 . Circum-stances of the Epistle.^ — The circumstances of this ' Epistle are more diiEcult to discover than those of any other of St. Paul's Epistles. The historical situation has been well described as a 'trackless forest,' and as a consequence the views of writers are very varied. We may best start by noticing that the Epistle was clearly written when the Apostle was burdened by some great anxiety, perhaps physical, but assuredly spiritual (11^8). xhis anxiety seems to have been connected with at least three things: (a) a mission of Titus; (6) a letter St. Paul had written to Corinth, either our 1 Cor., or an Epistle now lost (7'); (c) the treatment of some offender at Corinth, either the guilty one of 1 Co 5', or some resolute opponent of St. Paul's authority. In 13' we read of a projected third visit (for such seems the most natural interpretation of the words) , and this presupposes a second visit of which we have no record. Four questions then need to be answered.

(1) Why Titus' mission should have caused anxiety?

(2) What was the letter that led to St. Paul's concern as to its effect? (3) Who was the offender referred to? (4) When did the second visit take place?

2 . St. Paul and Corinth . — The Church was f oundedjln 53 or 54 on the Second Missionary Journey (Ac 18'). St. Paul remained there two years. After leaving, he kept up communications (2 Co 12"), though it was only at Ephesus on the Third Missionary Journey in 66 (Ac 19') that he could resume personal intercourse. While there, he heard of the terrible immorality, and wrote a short letter (1 Co 5'), ordering them to have no inter-course with fornicators. This letter, now lost, may be referred to in 2 Co I'S; and if so, it may have contained a statement that he would come to Corinth before going to Macedonia. This project, however, was altered (1 Co 16'). About the same time (a.d. 56) he possibly paid a second visit from Ephesus to Corinth, which caused him great pain and grief (2 Co 2' 12'«- « 13'). Then in the spring of 57 he wrote 1 Cor., and on the strength of his Apostolic authority ordered the punish-ment of the incestuous person (1 Co 6'-'). At the same time he sent Timothy on a mission (1 Co 4" 16'°) to support and supplement his letter. It is possible that 'nmothy returned with the sad news that the Church refused to carry out St. Paul's orders, or possibly that there was a growing opposition to his authority under some Judaizing ringleader. Then followed the mission of Titus, carrying with him a letter, our 1 Cor., or another now lost (2 Co 2' 7'), in which St. Paul insisted on Church discipUne. Paul leaves Ephesus owing to riot (Ac 19), expects to see Titus in Troas, but does not meet him until they reach Macedonia in

CORINTHIANS, SECOND EPISTLE TO

the summer or autumn of 57 (2 Co 2'2- "). The news Titus brought from Corinth is mixed. The majority of the Church had obeyed his orders and punished the offender (2 Co 28-"), but the Judaizers had grown stronger in opposition to the Apostle, charging him with inconsistency, false Apostleship, boasting, and money-making. They were also probably endeavour-ing to thwart his collections for Jerusalem (1 Co 16', 2 Co 8'). Not least of all was the still existing danger for Gentile converts of relapsing into heathen worship and impurity (2 Co 6" 7' 12i»-2'). As a result of this news, St. Paul writes our 2 Cor., in which (1) he ex-presses great satisfaction at the good news of discipline exercised against evildoers, (2) justifies the collection for Jerusalem, and (3) vindicates his Apostolicauthority. Then followed a visit (the third) to Corinth, and a stay of three months (Ac 20').

The moat uncertain point is the place of the second visit. As above stated, it is thought by some to have taken place before our 1 Cor. was written, though others suggest it should come soon after Timothy's mission and as a result of his failure. On this view, however, it is difficult, if not im-possible, to account for Titus' mission. It is also urged (Robertson in Hastings' DB) that a place for the second visit cannot be found anterior to our 1 Cor., and it must therefore be removed altogether from thesphere and circum-stances of our two Epistles. It is also uncertain whether the offender is the one of 1 Cor., as seems more probable, or some entirely different person who was a virulent opponent of St. Paul's Apostolicauthority. Godet makes out a strong and almost convincing case for a different set of circum-stances in 2 Cor. from those in 1 Corinthians. There is equal uncertainty as to the letter about which St. Paul was anxious Moat probably it is one now lost, and not our 1 Corinthians. Denney {Expos. Bible) considers the connexion between 1 and 2 Ck>r. so close as to need no hypotheses of additional Epistles now lost. He would explain 2 Cor. entirely out of

1 Corinthians. Bernard favours this view (so formerly Plummer) . On the other handj Godet places the second visit between our 1 and 2 Cor., which visit is thought to be the painful and recent one in 2 Co 18'-28. The following, modified from Robertson (Hastings' DB^i. 495), is perhaps the best scheme of events: — (1) Foundation of Church at Corinth (Ac 18'-'). (2) Apollo3atCorinth(Acl9',lColi2). (3)St.Paul at Ephesus (Ac 19'). [The second visit to CJorinth if before our 1 Cor.] (4) Lost letter of 1 Co 6^ (perhaps announcing the jplan of 2 Co 1"). (5) Some would put second visit to Connth here. (6) Visit of Stephanas and others from Corinth to St. Paul at Ephesus (1 Co 16"- '«), askmg for advice on certain matters (1 Co 71 8'). (7) 1 Cor. sent by Titus and the 'brother' (2 Co 12'8). (8) St. Paul determines to pay a double visit to CJorinth (2 Co 1") . (9) Painful news from Corinth through Titusleads toachangeof plan. (10) A severe letter sent. (11) Titus sent to Corinth (2 Co 7'-"), with, on the whole, favourable results. (12) Titus returns and meets St. Paul in Macedonia. (.13) Titus sent to Corinth with 2 Corinthians. (14) St. Paul's visit to Corinth and three months' stay (Ac 20*).

It is interesting to note the happy results of this letter. Not only did the Apostle go again to Corinth, but actually wintered there. Still more, it was during these three months that he wrote his great Epistle to the Romans, the quiet tone and massive strength of which bear witness to the restf ulness of the Apostle's mind and heart, as well as to the complete victory over the Judaizers. Not least of all, his favourite project — the collection for Jerusalem — was brought to a successful completion, and the Church of Corinth had some of its members included in the delegation to Jerusalem (Ac 20*). Hia vigorous Epistle was therefore not in vain, and Corinth and the whole Church have been the gainers by it in the overruUng providence of God.

3. Date. — 1 Cor. was written in the spring of 57, and

2 Cor. probably in the same year, though it is impossible to say definitely what was the exact interval between them. The all-engrossing topic of the collection for Jerusalem (chs. 8 and 9) indicates the date as during the time of the Third Missionary Journey. St. Paul had left Asia (,!'), and had passed through Troas (2"), and was in Macedonia (2" 9'). From Ac 20' we know that he wintered at Corinth, and so 2 Cor. fits in exactly

159,