There are obvious differences in Paul's mood in 2 Corinthians 10–13 and 2 Corinthians 1–9. In 2 Corinthians 10–13 he seems stressed out, but in 2 Corinthians 1–9 his mood is one of relief (2 Cor. 2.3-4, 9; 7.6-12). And for most of 2 Corinthians 1–7 he seems much relieved that a bad situation with respect to the immorality of some converts he feared existed in Corinth had actually not developed (2 Cor. 7.4, 8-13).

Groups of Believers according g to 2 Corinthians 1–9

Key Passages

Several clues indicate that Paul is more often addressing a broader group of converts in chs. 1–9 than in chs. 10–13. In chs. 10–13 he never addresses the converts as ‘all of you’. He simply says ‘you’. He uses this same style (‘you’) also in 1.3–2.2. However, after the transitional statement, ‘And I wrote to you as I did’ (2.3a), Paul regularly uses ‘all of you’ (us; 2 Cor. 2.3b, 5; 5.10; 7.13, 15). Thus, it appears that 2 Cor. 1.3–2.2 is addressed to the leaders of the brotherhood, those addressed in 2 Corinthians 10–13. 2 Corinthians 2.3–7.16 is addressed to another group of believers, those newly baptized, with implications for those being prepared for baptism, whereas 2 Corinthians 8–9 is addressed to all the converts.