02 Why Paul Didn’t Visit Corinth and What That Means for Us (2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4)

Wednesday in the Word

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When Paul didn’t return to Corinth as expected, some accused him of being unreliable. In 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:4, Paul explains his decision did not result from selfish motives but from pastoral care. His example gives us a window into how mature faith navigates conflict, disappointment, and the hard work of loving others well.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

Why Paul changed his mind about visiting Corinth.
How Paul’s opponents used his change of plans to question his integrity.
What Paul meant when he said God’s promises are always “yes” in Jesus.
How the Holy Spirit guarantees that God’s work in us will be completed.
Why Paul chose to write a letter instead of making another painful visit.

By listening, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church and what it means to live and lead with integrity. Krisan Marotta helps unpack this passage in a way that’s honest, accessible, and grounded in Scripture, equipping you to better trust God when plans change and relationships get complicated.

Why Paul Didn’t Visit Corinth

In 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:4, Paul addresses a specific situation: why he didn’t visit the Corinthian church as originally planned. Some in the church questioned his integrity and commitment, assuming his change in plans reflected selfish motives. But Paul uses this conflict to defend his actions, affirm his sincerity, and remind the Corinthians that the gospel is trustworthy and certain.

Understanding this passage requires some background on Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians, including the letters and visits that didn’t survive.

Paul’s Relationship with Corinth

To understand Paul’s decision not to visit, we need to know the timeline of his interactions with the church at Corinth.

For more detail: How Many Letters did Paul write to Corinth?

First Visit: Paul founded the church during his second missionary journey and stayed for about 18 months.
First Letter: Paul wrote a letter after returning home that is lost.
Letter From Corinth: The Corinthians wrote a letter to Paul in response to the lost letter.
Second Letter: Paul responds to their letter in the letter we call 1 Corinthians.
Second Visit: Paul visited Corinth, in a visit not recorded in Acts. This visit was a painful one
Third Letter: Paul wrote a “sorrowful” or “severe letter after the painful visit instead of returning in person. This letter is lost.
Fourth Letter: After hearing encouraging news from Titus about the Corinthians’ response, to the severe letter, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia.

Paul’s Defense for Why He didn’t Visit

Some Corinthians viewed Paul’s change in plans as a sign of unreliability. Paul explains his actions and defends his apostleship.

Paul originally planned to visit the Corinthians twice, on his way to and from Macedonia.
He changed his mind to spare them another painful confrontation.
Paul did not change his plans from selfish or worldly motives. He acted sincerely and with godly wisdom.
He reminded them that he had always been open and straightforward in his communication.

God’s Faithfulness

Paul connects his own trustworthiness to the faithfulness of God.

Paul’s word is not “Yes and No.” He does not say one thing and do another.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises. In Him, every promise is “Yes.”
God gave the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee, confirming that He will complete what He began in believers.
By highlighting that God is the source of their mutual faith, Paul hopes to counters any doubts about his ministry.
They can have confidence that Paul preached the true gospel to them because God sealed them with His spirit.

Paul Wrote Out of Love, Not Authority

Paul explains that his decision not to visit was motivated by love and concern, not fear or indifference.

Paul refrained from visiting to spare the Corinthians more sorrow.
He rebukes them only to foster and develop their faith which would result in their joy.
He hoped that his letter would lead to healing rather than another painful confrontation.
His goal in writing therefore was to defuse the fireworks that might happen if he came in person.

Key Takeaways

Paul changed his plans not because he lacked commitment but because he cared deeply about the Corinthians’ spiritual well-being.
They can have confidence Paul taught them the true gospel because they have the Spirit.
They can have utter confidence in what God is doing in their lives, even if they don’t like that fact that God used Paul to do it.
We can have confidence God will fulfill his promises to us because Jesus has already started the process.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 03 Why Paul didn’t Change the Message to Win More Converts (2 Corinthians 2:5-17)

Previous: 01 Suffering, Comfort, and Prayer: What Paul Teaches About Ministry (2 Corinthians 1:1-11)

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Resources to help you study: 2 Corinthians

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