This letter was not long in following the first, probably not more than a month or two. It would seem that a forged letter had come to this church purporting to have come from the apostle, which proclaimed that the day of the Lord was at hand. The second epistle was written to give the church more specific instructions on this point, to set their minds at rest and give them an understanding of this matter.
While Paul proceeded to Corinth, he sent Timothy to ascertain the condition in this new church. Timothy joined Paul in Corinth and reported the steadfastness of the faith of these believers, but that they were disturbed, and were laboring under mistaken ideas relative to the Second Coming of Christ. They were under the impression that this great event was soon to occur and raised the question, what about those who had died having a part in His glorious coming and kingdom? To set their at minds at rest on this point Ploniaaul wrote this first letter. It was the first of thirteen epistles written in 52 or 53 AD, or about eighteen years after his conversion. It was written at Corinth where Paul spent eighteen months.