2 Corinthians 2:1

The chapter division is artificial. Paul now clarified what he did mean in 2 Corinthians 1:23. When had Paul come to them in sorrow? There is no valid basis for describing his first visit to Corinth, during which he established the church, as a sorrowful one. He had experienced some hard times during the 18 months (Acts 18:11) he was there, but generally this visit was pleasant. Paul later referred to his next visit to Corinth as his third (2 Corinthians 12:14; 2 Corinthians 13:1). Consequently we have reference here to a second visit not recorded in the Book of Acts. The commentators disagree over whether it took place before or after the writing of 1 Corinthians. I believe the evidence indicates it took place after that writing. [Note: Cf. F. F. Bruce, ed., 1 and 2 Corinthians, pp. 183-84.]

Note that Paul "determined" not to come again in sorrow. This is not the language of a vacillator.