The apostle’s worst fears were more than realized. He was filled with horror at the picture thus presented before him. But he did not even now yield to despair. He did not conclude that his work had been a failure. With a heart throbbing with anguish, and eyes blinded with tears, he sought counsel from God, and made his plans. His immediate visit to Corinth must be given up. In the present state of the church they were not prepared to profit by his labors. He sent Titus to Corinth to inform them of his change of plans, and to do what he could to correct the existing evils. Then, summoning all the courage of his nature, and keeping his soul stayed upon God, stifling all feelings of indignation at the ingratitude which he had received, and throwing his whole soul into the work, he dictated to the faithful Sosthenes one of the richest, most instructive, and most powerful of all his letters,—the first extant Epistle to the Corinthians.{LP 151.1}

Apostlens værste frygt var mere end berettiget. Han blev fyldt med rædsel for det billede der derved blev præsenteret for ham. Men han blev ikke fortvivlet. Han konkluderede ikke at hans arbejde var en fiasko. Med hjertebankende pinsel, og øjnene forblændede af tårer, søgte han råd fra Gud, og lagde sine planer. Hans hurtige besøg i Korint måtte opgives. I menighedens nuværende tilstand ville de ikke få noget ud af hans arbejde. Han sendte Titus til Korint for at informere dem om hans nye planer, og gøre hvad han kunne for at rette op på eksisterende onder. Så mobiliseres al den mod han havde, og holdt hans sjæl fæstnet til Gud, kvæle alle indbildte vrede følelser ved den smiger de havde fået, og kaste hele hans sjæl ud i arbejdet. Han befalede de trofaste sostere i et af de rigeste, og mest belærende og mest mægtige af alle hans breve, - det første bevarede brev til korinterne.