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2 Corinthians Chapter 2
Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 1. "But I determined this for my own sake, that
I would not come to you in sorrow again."
As Joseph Excell pointed out, the division of chapters (between 1 & 2), is
unfortunate, because this (and the next three verses), belong to the paragraph which
started at 1:23. When Paul said "I would not come to you…again" it is
noted there is one visit recorded for him (in Acts), and that is Acts 18:1-18,
where he encountered the delightful Priscilla and Aquila. For some reason there is
endless debate here, as to how many times Paul went to Corinth, and the argument is better
left alone (for it detracts from the Word of God, and accomplishes little).
As to the "sorrow" part, Paul had written them (1st Corinthians) a
very strong letter, in which he censured them about divisiveness, personality cults,
immorality in the Church, lawsuits, selfishness, abuses of the Lord’s Supper,
spiritual gifts, and even about denials of the Resurrection. He called them
(insulted them, actually) "babes" (babies) in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1).
He did not wish to do this to them again.
In some ways, when you and I minister to one another, we are like parents, one to the
other. We encourage, share, admonish, and yes, discipline among ourselves, in the
Name of Christ. Yet, notice that the parent who acts in love, disciplines -
but acts also with reluctance, out of love for his child (just like Paul).
Verse 2. "For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom
I made
sorrowful?"
Paul was not willing to pain those who made him glad; just as we must not discipline
the one who has done no wrong. He would not visit them, when to do so, would cause
pain to them both (to Paul and to the Corinthians). As Excell points out, the
"I" is emphatic in the Greek, and carries none of the strange selfish
meaning, which some attribute to this verse.
Our normal state, with one another, should be love, in the presence of our Lord, in the
company of one another. Paul did not wish to be made glad by their sorrow, much like
the parent is not pleased at the sobs of his little ones. I was in a hospital
recently, and saw the tears in the eyes of my pastor, as he comforted the parents of the
child who had just gone to be with the Lord. Those tears capture the heart of Paul,
in relation to the people to whom he wrote.
Verse 3. "This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would
not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice;
having confidence in you all that my
joy would be the joy of
you all."
As stated in relation to verse two, the heart of every child of God, should be filled
with love. Something else we should feel is – joy! We are to have
this joy for others, as though they were our own child, who just won the big game!
We delight in the success of others! That’s precisely the way Paul was in
relation to the flock of God.
The typical condition of those in the world is (instead) sorrow, interrupted by
periodic bouts of elation, which is sometimes confused with joy. Paul was open
with these people, and he would respond as he was led by God. They had written to
him (1 Corinthians 7:1), with concerns about the actions of certain people in the church,
and Paul had responded with the letter we call 1st Corinthians.
Paul had already heard reports that the majority of the Corinthians had responded well
to his letter. However, some still opposed the freedom we have in Christ, and
evidently the opposition was led by a group of "Judaizers" (see Paul’s
responses in Chapters 10-13). The real source of joy in life, by the way, is found
in the Holy Spirit of God, and it was in Him, that Paul wrote these letters.
Verse 4. "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you
with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but
that you might know the love which I have
especially for
you."
If we had the manuscripts (the originals) of 1st and 2nd
Corinthians, they would be stained with the tears of Paul. We will see the originals
in eternity, by the way, for much like the ark is preserved (Revelation 11:19), and our
tears are kept (Psalm 56:8), the Word of God is alive (Hebrews 4:12) – forever
(Isaiah 40:8).
It is with this very kind of anguish and love, that Jesus Christ died for you. He
died that you might know Him, and know the love which our God has so freely given –
to you!
And if your life is difficult, He is simply allowing a work within you. He says
to you, "My son (My daughter, My child), do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves, He corrects, just as a father the son
in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12). So should we love our children, and so
God loves you and me.
Verse 5. "But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but
in some
degree -- in order not to say too much -- to all of
you."
Paul now begins to address the situation of the man who had committed sexual immorality
with his father’s wife (1 Corinthians 5:1 & forward). He had told them
"deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh" (1 Corinthians
5:5 – throw him out of the church). They had actually been previously
"glorying" (1 Corinthians 5:6) in the situation, and Paul had told them
"your glorying is not good."
They had been "puffed up and had not mourned" (1 Corinthians 5:2 – do we
mourn that sin is in our land; in our church?). But now they had indeed
mourned and had cast him out. They had then become saddened by these events, and so
had Paul. He gives them the advice, by the way, that we should give, as
parents, as pastors (we are all, to some extent, pastors to one another) – to not be
too severe.
Verse 6. "Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted
by the
majority,"
When you have provided discipline, in whatever context it may be necessary (perhaps as
an employer, in relation to a worker who will not work), enough is sufficient. In
all discipline, the aim is to achieve a desired result, and it is never to bring
harm needlessly to that person. The sentence for this man had been excommunication,
which may not seem severe in our society of many churches, but in that context, it brought
that which was needed for them all.
Note (as Excell comments) that this man’s name is never given. Paul reflects
the Jewish attitude of the time, that "there is a criminal cruelty in needlessly
calling a blush of shame into a brother’s face." As led by God, we protect
those around us, in every possible manner, including the reputation of our brother, our
sister, our neighbor, friend and even our enemy (who may later become more than a friend).
There are lines with other people we must not cross, and only the Holy Spirit can
show us where those lines are.
Verse 7. "so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him,
otherwise
such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive
sorrow."
Forgiveness ought to be the norm among Christians. Indeed, however, it
(forgiveness) is so rare in this world, that we are considered abnormal, when we do
forgive. A form of the word "crestians", which means "kind
hearted", was used among the Galatians in relation to the early Christians. The
word reached the language by accident (for Christians) in their culture, for they found
the earliest believers to actually BE so kind hearted, they thought the word
"kind hearted" was their name.
Are we kind hearted? Are we forgiving of others? Paul was our model in this
regard. He told us to work (or not eat) in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, noting that some
were disorderly and did not work (3:11). He commanded them to work (3:12),
and then told others to not associate with those who will not work (3:14). But then
he concluded, "yet do not count him as an enemy, but treat him as a brother" (2
Thessalonians 3:15).
We are to be strong and firm, but also gentle and kind, loving one another in the power
of God.
Verse 8. "Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him."
Keep in mind here that the offender within their midst, had performed incest with his
father’s wife. There are those who teach this was his step mother, but
the Greek actually does not support that. In a church I attended, years ago, an
exuberant man who really seemed to love the Lord, was suddenly accused of sexually abusing
his grand children. I left that church but later was told he went to prison for what
was done.
Incest is a terrible crime and prison is reasonable – a right place for the person
who commits the crime of incest, which is a violation of trust at a basic level. But
can we truly forgive such a person and welcome them back into fellowship, into our
church, into our homes, into our hearts, when they honestly repent of what they
have done? That is precisely what Paul tells us to do. And J. V. McGee reminds
us, "We are all capable of any sin."
We had a lengthy conversation about this verse, during this morning’s Friday
Study, and caution was urged, as to accepting certain offenders back into our midst.
As Don Araiza urged, "Love them, and also be cautious about (premature)
association...wait for (true) repentance and change in their lives." Yes!
In the same place that Christ urged us to be "harmless
as doves" (Matthew 10:16), He also cautioned us to be "wise as serpents." We are given brains and we should use
them. After using our brains to protect our little ones (and after much prayer) we
are to RECEIVE our truly repentant brother.
Verse 9. "For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test,
whether you are
obedient in all things."
You (your faith in God) will be tested. This is not "tempted" but tested
and it will happen to each one. The aim, in our walk with God, is that we will
become truly responsive to His Spirit; which is to say, to express His love and His
will to all we meet. As gold is tested for purity, so we will be tested in the fire
of God, until we are found pure in His love, pure in Him.
Paul was entrusted with the Gospel, not as pleasing men, but "God, Who tests
our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4 – it is our impure tendency to
please ourselves). The blind Milton said, "My vision Thou hast dimmed, that I
may see Thyself, Thyself alone." We will be tested until we see God alone.
We are to see Him in the face of that homeless person over there; in the
countenance of our spouse, who hurt us beyond measure; and upon the brow of our enemy, who
stabbed us through. We will be tested and we will see God.
Verse 10. "But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed
what I have
forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it
for your sakes in the presence of Christ,"
Paul now knew these Corinthians had become obedient (2 Corinthians 7:6 &
context – Titus had told him). It really didn’t matter to Paul, by the
way, that they followed him, but he had told them the will of God, and they (we) must
follow Him (God). Obedience is an expression of faith in God, and they were now
trusting in the Lord.
Paul would accept their decision about forgiveness (as in this verse), for to know
someone is truly a compassionate (forgiving) person, you can trust your back to them and
you will be safe. You can depend on their judgement, in areas like –
forgiveness.
Verse 11. "so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are
not ignorant
of his schemes."
A key reason for forgiveness is given here. We are to be full of the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus – and the enemy wants to take our love – away.
Our love (His love in us) is to be expressed in forgiveness. And just as surely as
the mirror reflects light, so we should reflect the forgiveness of Christ, to the one who
repents. Just as God receives them, so should we. The enemy is subtle, but our
lack of love is like the alarm clock in the morning – it should wake us up.
If we don’t forgive, we have the problem of the Ephesians in Revelation 2. –
We may be doctrinally correct, but if we are lacking in love, we have missed it all.
Additionally, the repentant person (who is already in a state of grief at what he
has done) can be sent back into sin by our rigid and severe response (the enemy would like
that). This is the observation of Matthew Henry, and if you think for a moment, it
is our observation, too. We need to become a people of the forgiveness given in our
God.
Verse 12. "Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door
was
opened for me in the Lord,"
Paul is at this time completing his thought about the painful circumstances in which he
had written 1st Corinthians. He wanted to come to them, but instead
stopped in Troas, at the direction of the Holy Spirit. (This is where we must stake
our lives – in following God). Just like Paul, we have desires which are
sometimes good, sometimes less good, but we must learn to follow God (and not
merely our own desires).
This, by the way, was the city Troas (not the district by the same name), and
the name of the place had been recently changed by the Romans from Antigonia Troas to
Alexandria Troas. It was well known by them, because the Romans thought it
represented Troy, which they thought was the "cradle of their race" (Excell).
Paul had stopped there during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:8-11) but left
because of the vision which led him to Macedonia.
He now stopped there on the way from Macedonia to Corinth, and found this "open
door" which was a flourishing Christian community (Acts 20:6-7), where he could
minister to them. He stayed there at least once more, before he was to be martyred
(2 Timothy 4:13). Excell is among those who thought it was probably at Troas
where his final arrest would take place (the one that led to his execution).
Verse 13. "I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but
taking my leave
of them, I went on to Macedonia."
It was Titus who was to bring word to Paul about the Church in Corinth, and I can
imagine Paul "beside himself", waiting for information. He paced around,
probably for days, looking for Titus, but then he went to Philippi, in Macedonia. It
was there Paul found Titus, this younger man of God
(2 Corinthians 7:5, 6), and learned the Corinthians had dealt with the man who had
committed incest. Paul was elated. The man had repented and turned from
his sin, and yet Paul was concerned, because the man had not been allowed back into
fellowship. Love forgives and does not "keep score" of previous
wrongs.
Verse 14. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and
manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of
Him in every place."
Matthew Henry correctly stated, "A believer’s triumphs are all in Christ.
In ourselves we are weak, and have neither joy nor victory; but in Christ, we may
rejoice and triumph." We are "more than conquerors" through Him Who
loved you and me (Romans 8:37). Our accomplishments are small and do not last, and
like the child who delights in the work of his father, we delight in God, Who leads us in
His Triumph in Christ.
J. Vernon McGee relates this to the many triumphal entries of the Roman armies (they
won a lot of battles, and this happened often – Paul would have seen
these processions. After a great victory, the procession would last from early
morning until late in the night. First they would see the people (captives) who were
going to be released. In the back were those to be executed. In between, were
the strange animals and trophies of victory, taken in battle.
Verse 15. "For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being
saved
and among those who are perishing;"
Running all through these triumphal entries of Roman armies, were clouds of incense,
burned to "gods" credited for the victory. Sometimes the procession was so
obscured by these thick clouds of incense, that people could not see. We are the
fragrance of God, as He expresses His utter victory in Christ (through ordinary
people, like you and me). We’re amazingly like plain, brass lamps, filled with
the fire of God.
Note that we (or rather, God in us), can be perceived, both by those who love
Him, and also by those who choose to NOT receive our Lord. I have been amazed, down
through the years, by the many who have inquired, at one time or another,
"You’re a Christian, aren’t you?" My amazement is reasonable,
for I’m ordinary in every way, except one – God is in me - even me. And
both the "lost" and the "saved" will perceive Him in you, as
well, when Christ is in you. His sweet savor of victory will be manifest through
you, just like incense will permeate a room.
Verse 16. "to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma
from life to
life. And who is adequate for these
things?"
J. Vernon McGee observed that in the Roman triumphal entry, there were those who were
going to be set free, and those who would be executed, but all of them were in the
triumphal entry (Jesus died for us all). Bishop Wordsworth made the delightful
comment about this verse – "In them that are saved, and in them that perish, the
odour is fragrant to God, though those who breathe it may be variously affected by
it."
To some (Acts 4:11, Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:8), Jesus (the Chief Corner Stone) becomes a
Stone of Stumbling, which grinds to powder, those on whom it falls. To others, He is
Life! The rabbis also spoke of the Law as "an aroma alike of death and
of life."
Years ago, when I was in an intensive care unit, they could not understand why I was
dying; because the medicine they gave was designed to give life – but I was
dying. It turned out the large quantities of penicillin-derivative had created an
allergy, and to this day, the easiest way to kill me, would be to give me penicillin.
That which gives life to the one, will kill another. In the case of our Lord
(Who gave Himself for the sins of the world), there are those who will not receive Him,
literally will themselves to eternal death.
Verse 17. "For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from
sincerity,
but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight
of God."
Paul asked, in the preceding verse, "Who is adequate for these things?"
The answer is – none of us. Our whole relationship with God is "In
Christ, in the sight of God," as in this verse.
A key concept for me, these many years, is from Matthew 10:8, "freely you have
received, freely give." This statement was made to the "twelve" when
they were sent out by twos, in a "practice run" to the "lost sheep of
Israel" (10:6). As I look on our lives, I see in retrospect, that we have
experienced many "practice runs", designed to bring us into conformity to Him,
as He always intended.
I was in sales, and sometimes did quite well; but other times were financial disasters,
during which I thought about "bad luck", regretted that I was ever born, took
(and practiced) all the "success" classes ever invented, worked 60- to 70-hours
a week; often to little avail. It was like I was a faucet, which was turned on and
off, at surprising, unexpected, and disturbing times.
Yet God wonderfully provided, even as I failed to do the job.
Time-and-time again, God gave what was needed. And He did not only do this
with money and with food, but He provided amply what was needed inside as well
– Enabling us to understand the Word of God, receive His Son, and be given abundantly
of His Spirit.
Freely, abundantly, each one of us has received – and let us also give the
good things of God, to everyone who comes our way.
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
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