2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Applebury's Comments

The One Who Caused Sorrow
Scripture

2 Corinthians 2:5-11. But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. 6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many; 7 so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, let by any means such a one should be swallowed up with, his overmuch sorrow 8 Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things. 10 But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the presence of Christ; 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Comments

if any hath caused sorrow.Paul does not name the offending one but the Corinthians knew who he was, and that is all that really matters. Our concern, of course, is with the restoration of the erring one. Since Paul chose to leave his identity undisclosed, we may assume that the principles involved in the case may be applied to any individual in the church who may become involved in sin.

There has been a great deal of speculation as to the identity of the offending party as well as the one offended. The case of the guilty party mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1 corresponds to all the issues mentioned in this chapter. The instruction which Paul gave in that case should be carefully reviewed as we undertake the study of what he says here. These points should be noted: (1) the man was guilty of sinful conduct the like of which would not be tolerated even by pagans; (2) the church had neglected to take action in correcting the matter; (3) Paul, though absent, had written to them instructions to be followed which were as binding as if he had actually been present in their assembly; (4) his decision as the inspired apostle of Christ was that such a one must be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh in order that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ; (5) when the church came together in the name of the Lord Jesus, they were to carry out this order.

While Paul's instruction was intended to bring about repentance on the part of the sinner, the present chapter indicates what should be done by the church when they discovered that the man had repented. The course to pursue in the case of the restoration of an erring brother is indicated in various places of the New Testament, for example, Paul's instruction to the Galatians, Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, looking to thyself lest thou also be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Simon the sorcerer is another example. He had believed Philip's preaching and had been baptized and continued with Philip. Subsequently when he saw that by the laying on of the apostles-' hands the power to perform miracles was given, he offered them money that he might buy the power to do that very thing himself. But Peter said unto him, thy silver perish with thee because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray the Lord if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee (Acts 8:20-22). James also has a word to say on the subject: My brethren if any among you err from the truth and one convert him, let him know that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall have a soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20). John indicates not only the procedure, but the means of accomplishing this desired end. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Then he proceeds to say: My little children these things write I unto you that ye may not sin; and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:1-2). To sum up, the erring brother is to (1) repent, that is to make up his mind that he is not going to continue in the same sin. See Romans 6:1-12; 1 John 3:9. If God's Word abides in a man, that is, becomes the ruling principle of his life, he cannot go on sinning for sin is the violation of the Word of God. (2) The erring sinner is called upon to make confession of his sin, not to man, but to God, for He alone can dictate the condition upon which the sin is to be removed. His Word makes it very clear that it is the blood of Christ that cleanses one's conscience from dead works to serve the living God. See Hebrews 9:14.

not to me.Paul had already indicated that the conditions in the church in Corinth had caused him distress and anguish of heart. The individual, however, of whom he now speaks had caused sorrow, not merely to Paul, but, in a measure, to the whole church. He said that the sorrow was caused in part that he might not press his charge too heavily on this man, for there were some who assumed the arrogant attitude that it was possible for one in the church to indulge in such conduct with impunity. The embarrassment and shame must have been felt by all with exception of a very few. Responsible leaders in the church who should have led in correcting the sin had become puffed up over their positions and had failed to take proper action in that tragic case.

sufficient to such a one is his punishment.The punishment mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:3-5 was severe. The guilty one was to be delivered to Satan, that is, left entirely to the company of Satan. Paul explicitly stated that the church members were not to get mixed up with the brother who was guilty of such sinful conduct. They were to do nothing that in any way would give anybody the impression that the church approved what he was doing.

by the many.It is very plain that there were some diehards in the church at Corinth that did not obey Paul's instruction. Many did obey and their action brought the desired result, that is, the sinner was brought to repentance. The negligent leaders of the church had been reminded of their responsibility and had acted to clear the church of this sinful situation.

forgive him and comfort him.Jesus told about the case of the unforgiving servant. And his lord called him unto him and said to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou besoughtest me. Shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant even as I had mercy on thee? And his lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due. So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you if ye forgive not everyone his brother from your hearts (Matthew 18:32-35).

Paul wrote to the Ephesians saying, be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).

God Himself sets the standard of forgiveness, when He says, And their sins I will remember no more (Hebrews 8:12).

swallowed up by his overmuch sorrow.The failure on the part of the church to forgive the erring brother would ruin the whole purpose of the remedial action recommended by the apostle.

confirm your love toward him.This unfeigned love of the brethren must proceed from the heart. See 1 Peter 1:22. Remembering what some of them had been before becoming Christians, it should not have been hard for them to forgive and show love toward the brother who had repented. See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. For a definition of exactly what Paul means by love see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Among other things love is kind. This is exactly the attitude which he now suggests that they should take toward the man who had repented of his sin.

to this end also did I write.He had given instructions in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 for dealing with a situation just like this. His closing word was, Put away the wicked man from among yourselves. He wrote it putting them to the test whether or not they would obey the instruction given by the inspired apostle of Christ in all things. The man had been punished; he had responded to the corrective measures taken by the church; he was now to be forgiven. As they had joined with Paul in the punishment, so they were now urged to join with him in forgiving the one who had repented.

for your sakes, in the presence of Christ.What had been done to cause Paul sorrow was inconsequential as compared to the sin against the body of Christ. What he now recommends was for the sake of the church as indicated by this: that no advantage be gained over us by Satan. Forgiveness and reinstatement into the fellowship of the church was the only way to prevent Satan from recapturing this brother because of his sorrow in being cut off from the saints of God. How often has the failure to forgive on the part of the brethren given the advantage to Satan!

for we are not ignorant of his devices.Many are the schemes by which Satan seeks to destroy the work of the church of God. Some of them are: (1) an unforgiving attitude which replaces brotherly love; (2) division over party loyalty of men that replaces the unity that should be expressed in loyalty to Christ; (3) worldliness that brings the church into disrepute that should be replaced by a life of purity and consecration to the Lord Jesus Christ; (4) the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) that should be replaced by the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-24); (5) the garments of sin which should be replaced by the garments of Christian character and conduct (Colossians 3:5-17).

One of the most subtle of all of Satan's schemes is the substitution of human wisdom for the revealed wisdom of God in the Bible. For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Paul says we are not ignorant of his devices. The only sure way for us not to fall victims to them is to study God's Word until we know what He says and with deep convictions seek to put it into practice in our daily lives. However alluring Satan's schemes may appear to be, we must be on guard against those systems which borrow the techniques and procedures from the very Word of God but fail to point sinners to the only One who can forgive them and to the only remedy that blots out sin, the blood of Christ.