About a year after this first letter, Paul writes again to the church in Corinth. Paul had already written three letters to the Corinthians (two are now lost). In 1 Corinthians (the second of these letters), he used strong words to correct and teach. Most of the church had responded in the right spirit; there were, however, those who were denying Paul’s authority and questioning his motives. So Paul writes again to defend his ministry, and a recurring focus of his is both a recounting of the hard circumstances he's faced, the comfort God gave him during them, and the encouragement and hope God gave him for the future. In life's hardest circumstances God gives comfort. This is hope, and that hope is Jesus.