How many letters did Paul write to Corinth?

by Krisan Marotta | Apr 11, 2019 | 02 Library, Background & History, Chart, Download

Paul's Letters to Corinth | WednesdayintheWord.com

Updated October 2026

How many letters did Paul write to the church in Corinth? The answer is not as easy as it sounds.

We have two letters to the Corinthian church in our Bible, but both of these letters mention another letter. Many scholars believe Paul wrote four letters to the Corinthians, but only two of them survived.

If they are right, the chronology of Paul's correspondence and visits to Corinth looks something like this.

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The Story in 7 Steps

Step 1. First visit: Paul plants the church

2nd missionary journey · about AD 51–52 · Acts 18

What: Paul arrives from Athens, lives with Priscilla and Aquila, and establishes the church at Corinth.
How long: He stays a year and six months.

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.- Acts 18:1

And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. - Acts 18:11

Step 2. Letter #1: The "Lost Letter"

3rd missionary journey · from Ephesus · 1 Cor 5:9

What: The first letter Paul wrote to Corinth. We know it only because 1 Corinthians mentions it.
When: After returning to Antioch, Paul makes Ephesus his base for the third journey. He probably wrote this letter there.
Why: Word of trouble in the church reached Paul. Among other things, he told them not to associate with immoral people.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- 1Corinthians 5:9

Step 3. A Letter from Corinth to Paul

3rd missionary journey · received in Ephesus · 1 Cor 7:1

What: The Corinthians write to Paul.
When: This letter reached Paul during his time at Ephesus.
Why: Several issues are causing controversy, and they want Paul’s wisdom to resolve them.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: - 1 Corinthians 7:1

Step 4. Letter #2: 1 Corinthians

3rd missionary journey · from Ephesus · about AD 54–55

What: The letter we call 1 Corinthians, dictated to Sosthenes. It is Paul’s second letter to Corinth.
When: Paul dictated this letter to Sosthenes during his time in Ephesus toward the beginning of his third missionary journey (approximately 54-55 AD).
Why: Paul answers their letter and responds to the report fom Chloe's people.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: 1 Corinthians 7:1

For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. - 1Corinthians 1:11

Step 5. Second Visit: The "Sorrowful Visit"

3rd missionary journey · from Ephesus · not recorded in Acts

What: A brief, painful trip to Corinth, predicted in 1 Corinthians 16 and recalled in 2 Corinthians 13. Not recorded in Acts.
Why: Timothy brought back news from Corinth that Paul felt he had to deal with quickly. Instead of the planned land route through Macedonia, Paul sailed straight across, stayed briefly, and went on to Macedonia.

⁵I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, ⁶and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost…- 1Corinthians 16:5-8

¹This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them-- 2Corinthians 13:1-2

¹⁰When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. ¹¹So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. -1Corinthians 16:10-11

Step 6. Letter #3: The "Severe Letter" from Paul

3rd missionary journey · probably from Macedonia · 2 Cor 2:4, 7:8

What: The tearful letter that caused the sorrow Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 7. It did not survive.
When: Probably written in Macedonia, after the sorrowful visit and before Paul returned to Ephesus.
Why: Something on his second visit troubled Paul. He decided not to make “another painful visit” and wrote instead, returning to Ephesus by land.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. - 2Corinthians 2:4

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it--for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while--2Corinthians 7:8

¹⁵Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. ¹⁶I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. …. - 2Corinthians 1:15-16

²³But I call God to witness against me--it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. ²⁴Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. ^2:1For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. - 2Corinthians 1:23-2:1

Step 7. Letter #4: 2 Corinthians

3rd missionary journey · from Macedonia, likely Philippi · about AD 56

Why: To prepare the church for his third visit, as he gathers a collection for the poor in Jerusalem.
What: The letter we call 2 Corinthians, Paul’s fourth letter to the church.
When: Paul sent Titus to Corinth instead of going himself. When Titus rejoined him in Macedonia with encouraging news, Paul rejoiced and wrote.

⁵For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. ⁶But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,⁷and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. - 2Corinthians 7:5-7

For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. - 2Corinthians 7:13

¹For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; ²for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; ⁴otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to speak of you--will be put to shame by this confidence. ⁵So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness. - 2Corinthians 9:1-5