Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 2

Verse 1

2Co 2:1. This chapter continues the thought introduced in verse 23 of the preceding one. Heaviness is from LUPE, which Thayer defines, "sorrow, pain, grief," and he explains it at this passage to mean, "of one who on coming both saddens and is made sad." Paul was always conscientious and would not keep back any unpleasant chastisement that was due his brethren. (See chapter 7:8.) However, by waiting a while longer before appearing in person, the brethren were given space to profit by the letter which he had sent to them, which caused some grief as we shall see later.

Verse 2

2Co 2:2. Since the sorrow over wrongdoing would be mutual between the guilty person and the one who chastised him for it, the only way the re-buker could be made glad would be by the repentance of the guilty one. Hence we can understand why Paul delayed his coming to Corinth until they had time to reflect and make adjustments.

Verse 3

2Co 2:3. This verse has virtually the same thought as the preceding one in its first part. Having confidence. Paul believed the Corinthian brethren would rejoice in whatever they saw would bring joy to the apostle.

Verse 4

2Co 2:4. Like a firm but kindhearted parent, Paul wrote his rebuke of the brethren in Corinth, although it pained him in his heart to do so; he knew they might be grieved also. But the purpose of the epistle was not merely for their grief, but to show them his great concern and love with reference to their spiritual welfare.

Verse 5

2Co 2:5. Paul is referring to the fornicator reported in chapter 5 of the preceding epistle, although no specific mention is made of him nor his sin. Not grieved me but in part. Paul does not claim to be the only one who is grieved over the affair; he is bearing only a part of the burden. Not overcharge you all. A part of the congregation at first had endorsed the fornicator, and thus were responsible for the grief that had been brought upon Paul by the circumstance. However, the apostle did not want to make too strong a complaint about it, since the guilty one had evidently repented of his wrong in committing the deed, and the church had taken the right attitude toward the epistle written that included the subject.

Verse 6

2Co 2:6. The church has no authority to administer physical punishment, but the word refers to the rebuke and disciplinary action that was taken against the fornicator. Inflicted of many. The last word is from an original that literally means a majority. The New Testament church does not decide religious matters by what is generally known as a "majority vote." In the present case it will be noted that Paul uses the term as a contrast with a man. There was just one man who had committed the act, but the chastisement was administered by many more than one, namely, by the church when it was "gathered together" (1Co 5:4). No final act of discipline can be scripturally performed except in a general assembly of the disciples. In such a meeting each member of the congregation has the right to offer scriptural objections to what is being proposed. If no such objection is stated, then the action must be regarded as that of the entire assembly; the act of many.

Verse 7

2Co 2:7. This verse considered alone might leave the impression that the church was still holding the charge against the fornicator, but we shall soon see that such was not the case.

Verse 8

2Co 2:8. Paul would not tell them to confirm their love toward the man, if they had not granted him any love at all. But sometimes brethren are too indifferent about certain matters, and expect others to take too much for granted. In as serious a case as the present one, they should not act in that way, but should so conduct themselves that the brother would have no doubt of the love of the church.

Verse 9

2Co 2:9. Did I write has reference to the first epistle to the Corinthians. The Philippians were especially ready to do their duty even when the apostle was not present (Php 2:12), and he concluded to make a test of the faithfulness of the brethren in Corinth, by remaining away long enough to see their reaction to the written instructions of the first epistle.

Verse 10

2Co 2:10. In 1Co 5:3-4 Paul shows that the act of discipline that he commanded to be done would be by his endorsement and participation, even though he really were not present. By the same token, the action of the church in forgiving the penitent man would be endorsed by him, though absent. In the person of Christ means to be acting by His authority. Being an inspired apostle of Christ, Paul could act as His representative in the matter. Not only did he have the authority to share in the act of forgiveness toward the penitent man, but he was personally so inclined.

Verse 11

2Co 2:11. Verse 7 indicates that if the brethren did not give the penitent one sufficient proof of their love, he would be overcome with sorrow or despair, and might be driven farther out into the world again. Of course that would be an advantage to Satan to have a soul lost to the church and gained for his realm. Devices means purposes and plans, and Satan always plans on using every occasion to injure the truth.

Verse 12

2Co 2:12-13. Even an apostle feels the need of encouragement from his brethren. When Paul arrived in Troas on this mentioned occasion, he observed an open door or opportunity for preaching the Gospel. But he had expected to meet Titus there to report how the church had reacted to his first epistle. Not seeing him at this time, his disappointment cut short the work and the apostle went on to Macedonia, another province made up of Greek people, lying just north of Greece proper.

Verse 14

2Co 2:14. Paul was induced to change his plans on account of the disappoint ment. However, a devoted servant of Christ will not permit such an experience to lead him astray, for his trust in the Lord will enable him to triumph. Savour means odor or fragrance, and Paul likens the knowledge of Christ to something pleasingly fragrant.

Verse 15

2Co 2:15. The pronoun we refers to any men who preach the Gospel. Such work is a sweet savour (taste or odor) in the estimation of Christ, and such is true whether the ones to whom it is preached accept it and are saved, or reject it and perish.

Verse 16

2Co 2:16. God does not wish that any soul will be lost, yet if the Gospel is rejected, it will become a savour (odor) of something that is deadly. The same Gospel will act as a life-giving odor for those who inhale it with sincerity. Hence the true preacher of God's word has the assurance that whether his hearer accepts or rejects it, the result will be as God expected it, and thereby it will "not return unto Him void" (Isa 55:11). The results of preaching the truth of God will be the same regardless of who does the preaching. However, it was especially true of the apostles since they were the ones who first preached it and did it by direct inspiration. That is why Paul asserts that he is sufficient (qualified) for these things.

Verse 17

2Co 2:17. Paul emphasizes his fitness for the aforesaid work, and specifies one qualification, namely, that he is not one who corrupts the word of God. Sincerity means a state of being pure or unmixed, and such was the kind of preaching Paul was doing; he gave it to the people unmixed with human traditions.