What we call Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church is possibly the most personal and pugnacious of the apostle's surviving writings. Unlike 1 Corinthians, where there are theological interpretations to argue, here Paul is battling for the validity of his own apostleship and ministry. Consequently, an aura of self-defense runs throughout 2 Corinthians.

Apparently Paul had revisited Corinth after writing the letter we call 1 Corinthians (which itself appears to incorporate parts of an earlier letter; see 1 Corinthians 5:9). During that interim visit a hefty exchange of insults and innuendo seems to have occurred, prompting Paul to write a "tearful" letter to the community defending his status and his mission (see 2 Corinthians 2:3ff.). This letter was evidently delivered by Titus, wh…