_(B) 2:8-13. THE OBJECT AND RESULTS OF THE SEVERE LETTER_ The Apostle reminds them that to produce this godly sorrow was the object of the letter he wrote before. He then speaks of one man who has caused him pain, asking them to remit the punishment inflicted already and forgive him, and telling th... [ Continue Reading ]
I WROTE] i.e. the painful letter of which 2 Corinthians 10-13 of the Second Epistle are probably a portion (see Intro.). IN YOU ALL] He speaks thus generously now that he has found his confidence not misplaced.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANY] A definite person is meant, but now that punishment has brought him to repentance the Apostle merely hints at him. The same person is indicated in 2 Corinthians 7:12, where see note.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARAPHRASE. 'Now with regard to the person who has been the occasion of this grief, he has grieved not me only, but to some extent (not to be too harsh) the Church. (6) And the sentence pronounced by the majority is quite sufficient punishment for him. (7) Do not inflict any further punishment, but... [ Continue Reading ]
PUNISHMENT] probably excommunication: cp. 1 Corinthians 5:4; (a different case). OF MANY] i.e. by the majority.... [ Continue Reading ]
OVERMUCH SORROW] The offender had now realised the heinousness of his offence, and the continuance of punishment would serve no good purpose, and might even do harm.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONFIRM _your_ LOVE] by restoring him to the Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle valued the act of discipline as much for the proof it afforded of the Corinthians' loyalty as for its effect upon the offender.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST] either (1) as in His sight, or (2) as in His place, or (3) as having Christ living in me: cp. 2 Corinthians 1:21; 2 Corinthians 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARAPHRASE. 'I forgive any one whom you forgive; for I have no personal feeling in the matter, and it is only for your sakes that I speak of forgiveness at all, and I forgive in the spirit of Christ. (11) I forgive this man lest he be tempted by Satan to deny the faith, for we know that the adversar... [ Continue Reading ]
GET AN ADVANTAGE] by the man being lost to Christ, or by the estrangement of the Apostle and the Corinthians; perhaps both. 12, 13. St. Paul had gone from Ephesus to Troas on the coast of Asia Minor a short time after dispatching the severe letter to Corinth by Titus. He had expected Titus to meet... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH] RV 'leadeth us in triumph.' The language is suggested by the triumphal procession of a Roman general. St. Paul thinks of himself as being a willing captive in Christ's train (cp. 2 Corinthians 10:5), and as spreading abroad the knowledge of Him like the pervading scent of the... [ Continue Reading ]
The figure of the triumphal procession is continued. 'Some of the conquered enemies were put to death when the procession reached the Capitol; to them the smell of the incense was “an odour of death unto death” to the rest, who were spared, “an odour of life unto life”' (Conybeare and Howson's 'Life... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY] RV 'the many'; i.e. those Judaising preachers of whom they had experience. These men had stirred up strife in the Church at Corinth by denying St. Paul's authority, accusing him of personal interest in the collection, and (what he resented most) impugning his doctrine. They insisted on the obs... [ Continue Reading ]