The Way
A Letter Written with Tears
The comfort Titus brought
Story
When the uproar was over, Paul called the disciples together, encouraged them, and said goodbye. On his way to Macedonia he stopped at Troas. Before this, Paul had written the church in Corinth a letter out of great distress and with many tears. In Troas a door opened for the gospel, but Paul had no peace of mind, because he did not find Titus, the Greek coworker he had sent to Corinth. So Paul left Troas and crossed over to Macedonia.
Even in Macedonia he had no rest. There was conflict on the outside and fear on the inside. Then Titus came. Titus told him that the church in Corinth longed to see Paul, that they were sorry for what had happened, and that they were eager to stand by him. God, who comforts the downhearted, comforted Paul by sending Titus.
From Macedonia Paul wrote to the church in Corinth again. Paul wrote, “We have this treasure in jars of clay. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Paul sent Titus back to Corinth, along with a brother praised by many churches. The letter was probably carried in their hands. Paul traveled through many parts of Macedonia, encouraging the believers, and then went down to Greece.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart, and with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know my love for you.
God, who comforts the downhearted, comforted us by bringing Titus to us.
We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this great power comes from God and not from us.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone; look, the new has come.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 20:1–2 · 2 Cor 2:12–13; 7:5–7
Background
Acts does not say where in Macedonia Paul wrote this letter. Some old manuscripts note at the end that it was written in Philippi. Second Corinthians is the letter in which Paul shows the most of his inner heart and his weakness.
Pause and Reflect
When I was downhearted, who came to my side and gave me strength?