Paul, on his way to Macedonia, worries about the troublesome flock at Corinth. In those times, Corinth was a great metropolis and a seaport, with a reputation for profligacy. Having established a Christian community there, Paul realises that the Church there was still an explosive mixture and he himself was being attacked by mischief makers who preached the Gospel inaccurately. Some of them even accused Paul of unacceptable activities. They slandered his behaviour and motives, and he had to defend himself and his authority as an apostle.

In this letter, we see Paul with his extraordinary mind defending himself, mixing irony with reproach, pride with humility, and we get some idea of the many vicissitudes of his life and the vast odds against which he was fighting. We also learn how intensely practical was his approach to the Christian life, and how very sure he was of God's hand in all that happened to him, no matter how diificult it was. He had the readiness of a total commitment to God, a commitment that accepted gladly both sufferings and success. Everything was for the love of God.

Jesus, in talking to His disciples, emphasised this same commitment to God. He called the disciples to a higher level of perception of the kingdom of heaven.