What does 2 Corinthians 1:15 mean?

In the closing chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul expressed his original plan. This was to leave Ephesus at Pentecost time, travel to visit the churches in Macedonia, and then arrive in Corinth to visit with them over the winter. He had planted the church in Corinth and led many of them to faith in Christ. He had great affection for them.

For various reasons, it seems Paul's plans changed. Instead of going first to Macedonia, he apparently traveled from Ephesus directly to Corinth. Some scholars suggest that perhaps Timothy brought back a report from Corinth showing even greater struggles over issues of the faith than were realized. Paul may have felt that they could not afford for him to wait to return to them in person.

Judging by what's written in this letter, it seems this visit with them did not go well. One or more in the church opposed Paul, perhaps unhappy over the rebukes of his first letter. Paul describes the visit as painful (2 Corinthians 2:1). It was also brief. He soon left and headed to Macedonia, as he had planned.

Now Paul reveals that he changed his original plans because he wanted to have two visits with them, one on the way to Macedonia and one on the way back. Two visits would give them two experiences of grace. By this, Paul may have meant that they would get to send him off with grace twice instead of once. Or, perhaps, he meant that his presence with them brought them a special blessing of God's grace.