1Paul having shewn a motive of tenderness for not coming to Corinth, as also for writing his former epistle, 6declareth himself satisfied with the censure inflicted on the incestuous person, and desireth them to forgive and comfort him, 10as he himself had forgiven him in Christ's name. 12His uneasiness for not finding Titus at Troas had caused him to go forthwith into Macedonia. 14He blesseth God for the successfulness of his labours everywhere, 17professing his sincerity and disinterestedness before God.
1BUT I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in 1heaviness.
1 That is, to grieve both you and me by the ecclesiastical punishments which must be exercised against some among you.
2For 2if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
2 He says this because, when a member of the congregation must be punished, all the other members must grieve for it. See 1 Cor. 5:2.
3And I 3wrote 4this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow 5from them of whom I ought to rejoice; havinga confidence in you all, 6that my joy is the joy of you all.
3 Namely, in my first epistle, chapter 5.
4 Namely, of taking away and amending the faults among you.
5 This he says not only of the incestuous person, but of all the Corinthians who had tolerated these and other defects among them.
a 2 Cor. 8:22; Gal. 5:10.
6 That is, the cause of my joy, namely, the removing of such offenses, would also be a cause of your joy, namely, when such an offense would be removed, and the congregation brought into a good state.
4For out of 7much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know 8the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
7 Or, much tribulation. This may be understood, either from the occasion of the time in which he wrote the previous epistle, because in the time of affliction one does take a closer and better notice of all things, and with greater compassion and more mature deliberation writes what one writes; or, from the anxiety and grief which the apostle has had in his mind about such an offense as was among them when he wrote the epistle.
8 Namely, which could not tolerate that one would be inclined that you would not have a proper displeasure at such faults. Or, that you would make yourselves guilty to such faults.
5But if any have caused grief, he hath 9not grieved me, but 10in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
9 Namely, alone.
10 That is, in some sort. Thus the apostle speaks of this fault, not to make it smaller, but because this person had now due sorrow for it, and he would presently exhort them to the receiving of him again.
6Sufficientb to such a man is 11this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
b 1 Cor. 5:3.
11 This some understand of the maximum ecclesiastical punishment or excommunication, which the apostle had commanded to be exercised against this man, 1 Cor. 5:3, and understand the word sufficient of the short time which he had endured this punishment. But others think from all the circumstances of this text that this man, being now admonished and seriously reproved by the rulers of the congregation, prevented by his repentance excommunication, seeing excommunication is the last punishment of the churches, and which must be done, not only before many, but before the whole congregation, and that the Corinthians desired Paul’s advice about this by Titus what they would now do further in his case, seeing he was penitent, as appears by the seventh chapter following, whereunto he answers, that this reproof, which was inflicted of many, that is, by the rulers of the congregation, whereupon such serious sorrow had followed, was now enough, and that from now on they would receive him again, that they might not bring him to despair by such a great sorrow.
7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to 12forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be 13swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
12 That is, proceed no further against him, but receive him again, and discharge him from the highest punishment. These words of Paul have no reference to any power of the church to forgive sins before God, which belongs to God alone, but according to God’s Word to declare to the penitent that their sins are forgiven before God, and consequently to comfort such, and to declare his absolution before the congregation which was offended by him. See Mat. 18:18; John 20:23.
13 That is, fall into such grief that he would thereby come into despair.
8Wherefore I 14beseech you that ye would confirm your 15love toward him.
14 Or, exhort.
15 Namely, which Christ will have to be shown or confirmed towards a penitent sinner, Mat. 18:21, 22.
9For to this end also did I write, that I might 16know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient 17in all things.
16 That is, understand your proof, and thereby know your uprightness in this point.
17 That is, in keeping of all the commands of Christ, whereof this also is one. See Mat. 16:19; 18:15.
10To whom ye 18forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, 19for your sakes forgave I it 20in the person of Christ;
18 See the exposition hereof in verse 7.
19 That is, to show herein my agreement with you in the observation of Christ’s commands, and our mutual love.
20 That is, uprightly, as in the presence of Christ, Who sees and hears all things. Or, in the Person of Christ, as this word is taken in 2 Cor. 1:11, that is, in the Name of Christ. See 2 Cor. 5:20.
11Lest Satan should get an advantage 21of us: for we are not ignorant of 22his devices.
21 Or, that we may not be surprised, subdued, possessed by Satan. The Greek word signifies to get or have more than he has a right to, and is used especially of covetous persons; and is a similitude taken from covetous merchants, who seek all opportunities to deceive men.
22 That is, his deceptions, schemes or inflictions, 2 Cor. 10:5, which sometimes by too great slackness of ecclesiastical discipline seeks to lull sinners asleep, and sometimes by too much strictness to bring them to despair.
12Furthermore, whenc I came to 23Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a 24door was opened unto me of the Lord,
c Acts 16:8.
23 About this place and journey of Paul, see more at large in Acts 16:8, etc.
24 That is, opportunity. See 1 Cor. 16:9.
13I had 25no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
25 Namely, to remain there very long, although Paul established a congregation there also, as appears by the following verse, and by 2 Tim. 4:13.
14Now thanks be unto God, which 26always causeth us to 27triumph 28in Christ, and maketh manifest thed29savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
26 That is, whether we preach the Gospel a long time, or a short time in one place.
27 Or, overcome, conquer.
28 That is, in the cause of Christ, or, by Christ.
d Col. 1:27.
29 That is, the rumor or the progress; a similitude taken from the offering of incense in the Old Testament, which, being kindled by fire, spread itself through the temple and the congregation.
15For we are unto God 30a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
30 That is, acceptable and well pleasing, because God’s mercy is manifested in those who are saved, and His justice in those who perish. See Luke 2:34.
16Toe the one we are 31the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is 32sufficient for these things?
e Luke 2:34.
31 That is, which is fatal, and inflicts death in them. Not that the Gospel of its own nature inflicts death to a person, for it is a ministry of life, 2 Cor. 3:6, 7, and a power of God unto salvation to all who believe, Rom. 1:16, but because they, who are unbelieving, through their own willfulness set themselves against it, and so draw down God’s heavier judgment upon them. See John 3:36; 1 Peter 2:7, 8.
32 Or, is able, namely, of himself or by himself, as is declared hereafter in 2 Cor. 3:5, 6.
17For we 33are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as 34of God, in the sight of God speak we 35in Christ.
33 Or, falsify not the Word of God, Gr. kapeleuontes, which word signifies to be ready to sell something on a small scale or to carry it for sale, and to sell the same for better, gives it oftentimes another smell, or taste, or gloss; and is also by similitude taken for, as it were, setting anything for sale under a false smell, or taste, or gloss, which signification here suits well, seeing the apostle here testifies that he did not garnish the Gospel, nor bend or wrest it according to men’s will and pleasure, but teaches the same in uprightness and purity, without regarding the pleasure of men, committing the issue thereof to God.
34 That is, of God’s inspiration, and in God’s name, 2 Cor. 5:19.
35 Or, of Christ. Seeing Christ is the total aim and purpose of our Gospel, 1 Cor. 2:2.