2 Corinthians 2 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

2 Corinthians 2

2:1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgive the Sinner

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Triumph in Christ

12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Commentary

v1-2: Paul's determination was to bring joy, not sorrow; such is the ministry of the servant of God.

v3-11: Following on from 1 Cor 5.1-5; forgiveness to follow discipline. The ultimate aim is that the person receiving discipline be restored to Christ and to the fellowship, "his spirit may be saved" (1 Cor 5.5), "that they may learn not to blaspheme" (1 Tim 1.20).

v3-4: Paul's fatherly concern (1 Cor 4.14-15); with much affliction, anguish of heart, and many tears. He was looking forward to sharing joyfully together.

v5-6: They had to realise that the guilty man had grieved (or pained) the whole church. However, the punishment he had received was sufficient. The danger was that the discipline of a brother was too severe.

v7-8: The one who was put away, delivered to Satan, may now be forgiven and comforted. Our love for him should be reaffirmed. This is an important stage in disciplining a sinning brother.

v9: If we are obedient in disciplining, we should also be obedient in forgiving. Such discipline has to be administered properly by the church, not by any individual, or group, within it. Therefore there is no place for personal animosity.

v10: Paul fully supported the church in their discipline. Where they had now forgiven him, Paul shared that forgiveness, and honoured the actions of the church.

v11: We must be aware that Satan will use any opportunity to attack the people of God; he uses schemes, strategies, devices, and deceits. His attacks are nor 'fair', for his only rules are his own rules. He attacks through temptation and sin, through the failure of the church to exercise proper discipline, through the failure of the church to receive a repentant brother. He will use such things to bring doubt, discouragement, and division.

v12: From here to 7.4, Paul explains the nature of his ministry, and he defends it. Some had attacked his authority to act as an apostle.

v12-13: Paul's visit to the area. In his second missionary journey, Paul went to Troas, then to Macedonia, and then to Corinth (Acts 16-18).

v14-16: We are the very fragrance of Christ; this demands that we reflect His character to others. Our conduct is with simplicity and godly sincerity (1.12). This will not see everyone saved, for to some it is the aroma of death to death. This fragrance is a proof of the true servant of God.

v17: Paul's ministry was transparently sincere, "you yourselves know" (1 Thess 2.1,5,9).

To peddle, or corrupt (Gk: KAPELEUO), is different from merchant (Gk: EMPOROS) – many, is seems, had treated the gospel as the latest fad, a popular bandwagon, by which they might line their pockets. Paul also suggests that these false apostles had visited Corinth (3.1; 11.4).