The reason Paul included the information in these transitional verses appears to have been to help his readers appreciate his anxious concern for their welfare, which Titus was to report to him. It was further to explain the reason for his movements. Paul did not leave Troas because he was acting on the emotions of the moment but because he had a deep concern for the Corinthians. This is the last of Paul's explanations of his recent conduct in this epistle.
Paul had returned to Ephesus from Corinth following his "painful visit"to the Corinthian church. He then dispatched Titus to Corinth with the "severe letter."Paul may have left for Troas because of the riot that Demetrius provoked in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). Evidently he had planned to leave Ephesus anyway since he had arranged to meet Titus in Troas or Macedonia. The apostle left Troas and moved west into the province of Macedonia because he felt distressed because of opposition in Ephesus, the situation in Corinth, and his concern for Titus (7:5-7).
