Paul's Favorite?

2 Corinthians 7:3 KJV

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

What an interesting phrase, "to die and live with you". It is meant as an earnest expression of affection for them. He could easily wish to live with them for the rest of his life. It is similar to the phrase, "til death do us part".  

Paul's stay at Corinth was his longest. Though he had come to them in much distress, and though his first letter was filled with corrections against practices in the church and though he had sent his first letter with bated breath, concerned over how it might have been received, he had grown to love these people with his heart. 

• He said nothing negative to the church at Philippi but he did not tell them he would want to live the rest of his life there. 
• He had an obvious affection for those of Ephesus[1] and Colosse but he never said he would like to live the rest of his life in those cities. 
• We do not find where he had hoped to live his out his old age in Antioch or even in Jerusalem (a place he was willing to risk his life for).

But he did tell the church at Corinth that he had it in his heart "to die and to live with" them.

Was this his favorite? I do not know. But I do know that

• Their sins
• Their misunderstandings of doctrines even
• Their provoking of him through the false apostles

had not changed his deep love for them.

Perhaps this is meant as an example of God's undying love for us. 

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[1] Acts 20:37-38 KJV

And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.