2. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)
2nd letter, 55 A.D. Paul continues to hear of “issues” in the church and writes his second letter: 1 Corinthians
2nd visit, 55 A.D. When the Corinthian church grows in their rebellion against Paul, he makes a “painful” visit to them (it doesn’t go well)
3rd letter, 56 A.D. Paul writes a very stern third letter (which no longer exists), which Titus delivers to them.
4th letter, 56 A.D. The Corinthians have a change of heart toward Paul, who then Paul writes a fourth letter – 2 Corinthians
3rd visit, 57 A.D. Paul’s final visit to Corinth (3 months)

3. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)

4. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)
2nd letter, 55 A.D. Paul continues to hear of “issues” in the church and writes his second letter: 1 Corinthians

5. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)
2nd letter, 55 A.D. Paul continues to hear of “issues” in the church and writes his second letter: 1 Corinthians
2nd visit, 55 A.D. When the Corinthian church grows in their rebellion against Paul, he makes a “painful” visit to them (it doesn’t go well).

6. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)
2nd letter, 55 A.D. Paul continues to hear of “issues” in the church and writes his second letter: 1 Corinthians
2nd visit, 55 A.D. When the Corinthian church grows in their rebellion against Paul, he makes a “painful” visit to them (it doesn’t go well)
3rd letter, 56 A.D. Paul writes a very stern third letter (which no longer exists), which Titus delivers to them.

7. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)
2nd letter, 55 A.D. Paul continues to hear of “issues” in the church and writes his second letter: 1 Corinthians
2nd visit, 55 A.D. When the Corinthian church grows in their rebellion against Paul, he makes a “painful” visit to them (it doesn’t go well)
3rd letter, 56 A.D. Paul writes a very stern third letter (which no longer exists), which Titus delivers to them.
4th letter, 56 A.D. The Corinthians have a change of heart toward Paul, who then Paul writes a fourth letter – 2 Corinthians

8. 1st visit, 50 A. D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting
1st visit, 50 A.D. Paul spends 1 ½ years in Corinth starting the church.
1st letter, 54 A.D. Paul hears of “issues” in the church and writes his first letter (which no longer exists)
2nd letter, 55 A.D. Paul continues to hear of “issues” in the church and writes his second letter: 1 Corinthians
2nd visit, 55 A.D. When the Corinthian church grows in their rebellion against Paul, he makes a “painful” visit to them (it doesn’t go well)
3rd letter, 56 A.D. Paul writes a very stern third letter (which no longer exists), which Titus delivers to them.
4th letter, 56 A.D. The Corinthians have a change of heart toward Paul, who then Paul writes a fourth letter – 2 Corinthians
3rd visit, 57 A.D. Paul’s final visit to Corinth (3 months)

9. 2 Corinthians 1:23 – 2:4
1:23 I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.
1:24 I do not mean that we have control of your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand by faith.
2:1 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.

10. 2 Corinthians 1:23 – 2:4
2:2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me? 
2:3 I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 
2:4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart — not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

11. Usually, healing of relationships takes (a long) time.
Sometimes, even wise and well-intentioned efforts to bring healing to the relationship fail (and they may even seem to make things worse).
Sometimes, a 3rd party can help bring healing.
Often, if you persevere, healing comes.

12. You can only control you. So…CONTROL YOURSELF!
(Especially your tongue.)
I tell you that on the Day of Judgment people will have to account for every careless word these speak.
Jesus, Matthew 12:36
Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow anger.
James 1:19
Every sea creature, reptile, bird or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:7

13. Lord, please forgive me for the things I’ve done and the things I’ve said that have led to hurt and broken relationships.
Help me to control me. Help me to guard my tongue and be quick to listen and slow to speak and definitely, slow to anger.
Sometimes, like Paul, I will try things that won’t seem to “fix” the relationship – and they may even seem to make things worse.
And when nothing seems to work, remind me to keep praying, keep trusting your timing, keep persevering, and keep loving others.
Please bring healing to my relationships.
Amen.