Knowing that they are in need of strong guidance, and perhaps also wishing to appoint elders (see comments under 1 Corinthians 5:3), Paul wants to pay the Corinthians more than a brief visit. Yet he humbly acknowledges that his plans can only succeed if if the Lord permits
(see further 1 Corinthians 4:19; Acts 18:21; James 4:13–16).
With the help of two other New Testament books, namely Acts and 2 Corinthians, we can form a rough idea of how Paul’s plans eventually worked out.
Luke reports that Paul travelled from Ephesus to Macedonia, gave the Macedonian churches much encouragement,
and then spent three months in Greece
(by which is meant the southern province of Achaia, where Corinth was situated). If this is the winter visit
that Paul had envisaged in his letter, it came at quite a late stage. About two years passed between the writing of the letter and the visit that Luke describes. After this visit Paul and his companions undertook the journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:1 – 21:40).
However, in 2 Corinthians we read of a visit to Corinth that took place before the three-month visit described in Acts 20. This visit must have taken place relatively soon after Paul sent away the letter that we know as 1 Corinthians. But it turned out to be a painful visit
(2 Corinthians 2:1). Apparently, as Paul had half feared (1 Corinthians 4:21), there were those in the Corinthian church who opposed him and caused much harm to the church (2 Corinthians 2:5–11).
Because of the pain that this visit caused to both himself and the church, Paul decided to postpone his next planned visit. He communicated with the Corinthians via a letter that was sent from Macedonia. This letter is not in existence anymore; we only read of it in 2 Corinthians, where it is described as a letter written with many tears
(2 Corinthians 2:4). Wonderfully, this letter led to grief and repentance among many in the church (2 Corinthians 7:6–11). The time was ripe for Paul’s final visit, during which he and his companions would finally gather up the collection for the poor in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:16 – 9:5).
7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.