Schizophrenic?

Up to now, the book of 2 Corinthians has been a book about reconciliation.  In the opening 9 chapters, Paul tries to correct misunderstandings with the Corinthian church and to rebuild his relationship with them.  To this point, Paul's tone has been irenic and reconciliatory. In Chapter 10, this all changes dramatically and suddenly.  Paul moves from reconciliation to confrontation.  Chapters 10-13 are full of rebuke, sarcasm, and even vitriol.  What happens between chapter 9 and chapter 10?

Evangelicals typically give two answers to this questions:

     1. Between chapters 9 and 10, news arrives from Corinth and it is not good.  There is a minority group that is still challenging Paul and that is not willing to recognize his authority as an apostle.  Chapters 10-13 are meant as a addendum for this group while the opening chapters are preserved for those who have been reconciled to Paul.  (Plus, scrolls aren't cheap.  Can't rip the whole thing up and start over because of bad news).

     2. Chapters 10-13 were written before chapters 1-9.  In 2 Corinthians 2:4, the Apostle Paul says that he had written a letter to the Corinthians out of great sorrow and anguish with many tears.  This letter had replaced a planned visit to Corinth.  It is clear that this letter was a tough letter of rebuke, one that upset many in the Corinthian church.  The theory of many scholars is that chapters 10-13 are that "sorrowful letter."  They were appended on to the end of Paul's letter of reconciliation so that we might know the context for the letter Paul has currently written.

I'll let you decide what you think the right answer might be.  If you have been present on Wednesday nights for our Bible study, you know what I think.  It pays not to miss Wednesday nights.