II Corinthians Lesson Two
II CORINTHIANS 1:23-2:4
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23But I call upon God as my soul's witness: it was to avoid hurting you that I refrained from coming to Corinth--24Not that we have dominion [over you] and lord it over your faith, but [rather that we work with you as] fellow laborers [to promote] your joy, for in [your] faith ([g]in your strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God) you stand firm.1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. |
I. Against the accusation that Paul had altered his travel plans and caused his converts much pain!
A. 1:23-2:1 God is faithful (1:18)
a. The reason I postponed my visit in fact was to spare you pain. (v.23)
b. This does not mean that I am unstable as some of you say (1:17), but this proves I am pleased with your joy ( 1:24) and we avoided unnecessary pain.
The matter of Paul's planned visit is under discussion. He changed his plans to spare them pain. The "I made up my mind" (2:1) is a reference made at Ephesus after hearing insults hurled at him. by the wrong doer (7:12) . He resolved to write these people rather than make a personal visit. (2:3, 4, 7:8 ;12).The idea behind these verses is that Paul is rejecting the charges hurled at him earlier in the 1st Chapter.
c. V.2, Once again Paul says that his decision not to revisit Corinth was to spare them pain.
d. Vs. 3,4 In the Second place, there was no advantage to a personal visit.
(1) Paul wrote the Corinthians the "sorrowful, or painful" letter .
(2) Paul wrote the letter to save from being " pained " by them when he finally did make a second visit.
(3) These people ought to be a source of joy rather than pain (v.3). Yet, in writing this "painful" letter, he has the assurance that whatever made him glad, ought to also be joy to them (v. 3b).
(4) V.4, the Origins and circumstances of this "painful" letter are described.
(a) This letter was written out of great distress and pain
(b) This is probably a letter we do not have. See 7:8 and 12.
(c) V. 4b---Although the letter was written in pain, and proved painful to the recipients (7:8) in the final analyses, it ought to prove Paul's affection for them.
5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Ministers of the New Covenant
I. Forgiveness for the Offender
In the preceding section, Paul has spoken about feeling pain and causing pain and avoiding further pain. No, in this section, all three aspects will come up again with reference to a certain "wrongdoer" at Corinth. A lesson here for preachers. Paul does not name the individual. (vv.-5-8), Christian discipline is not just retributive but also remedial (vv.6,7), and those at Corinth ought to follow Paul's conduct. And, Paul is aware of the works of Satan in the community (v.11).
II. Who is the man of vv 5-11
A. Most older commentators thought he was the man of 1st Cor. 5.
B. Modern commentators mostly reject that idea for to many reasons to delve into here.
Evidently, after Paul's painful visit an insult of some description had been directed at Paul or to someone representing Paul by a visitor or the opposition at Corinth. They apparently objected to Paul's disciplinary methods See v.5" if anyone has caused pain, he had caused pain not so much to me as to all of you---to some extent.
On the basis of Titus's report about the Corinthian reaction to the "stern letter" (see 7:7-11), Paul instructs the church to terminate the discipline on this individual. In fact, this punishment was inflicted on the wrong doer by the majority. In light of 7a. it seems likely that the minority were a pro-Pauline clique who thought the punishment not sufficient.
C. VS. 7-9 The Church at Corinth ought to "Rescue the Man" who has done wrong.
1. Must forgive him
2. Must encourage him
3. Ought to be done in public
An interesting study is to compare this section with Matthew chapter 18 and church discipline. We we do that we see that Paul is in fact following the pattern of the Lord.
D. VS. 10, 11
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12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.
14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
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By Lane Rogers