2cor2

Paul continues in chapter two with more about the reason he didn't visit them and instead sent them a letter. He also expresses his thankfulness for having heard of their change of heart towards the issues at hand. Father, reveal Your Word to us as we study and meditate upon it!

2 Corinthians 2:1 Paul is saying that he does not want to return unto them to bring rebuke but wishes to come to them rejoicing. Paul's first visit after founding the church was one that was not very pleasant and he does not want to return to that same thing. The heaviness is his hurt and pain of knowing they have not yet resolved the issues he first spoke to them about.

2 Corinthians 2:2 Here Paul is saying that if he were to come to them now while they are having these difficulties and were to hurt them by what he would have to say in disciplinary actions it would not only sadden him but sadden them and who would be left to bring joy. Paul wishes to remember and keep in remembrance his fellow Believers as a source of joy and wishes they resolve their problems through Christ so he does not have to come to them again with correction.

2 Corinthians 2:3 It is thought by many commentators that Paul wrote another letter between 1st and 2nd Corinthians, which would be a lost letter of Paul while others believe it simply refers to 1st Corinthians. I feel there is the possibility there was another letter, which would have given more light to some of the statements made in this letter. There is also the possibility according to some that chapters 10 to 13 are a part of the lost letter. This lost letter would be the one he refers to here. At this present time I would have to support the idea that there might have been another letter written between 1st and 2nd Corinthians but I honestly have no real backing for it--just speculation. 1st Corinthians does not really touch on some of the topic area touched upon in 2nd Corinthians leaving one to think that either part of 1st or 2nd Corinthians is missing or another letter perhaps shorter was written between the two. Here in verse 3 Paul is says more or less that sending a letter to you would be better than a personal visit at this time. Paul does not want to lose the love and friendship of the people at Corinth. Paul is actually feeling sorry for having to scold the Corinthians. It could be looked at in the same manner in which a parent scolds their children. The Believers at Corinth were like Paul's own children, he had to reprimand them but still needed to make sure they knew he loved them. This way by writing the letter he could tell them of his sorrows towards their continued actions, which is sometimes better than face-to-face admonishment.

Father, let us always walk in love and when necessary to correct another person let us do it in a manner that edifies You and builds confidence and love in the person being corrected.

2 Corinthians 2:4 Paul continues to let them know that he truly does not like to reprimand his loved ones. He looks upon them with great love and because of this great love he also knows he must make them aware that he is knowledgeable of their wrongdoing. For with great anguish I wrote to you and not to bring you grief but so you might know my true love and faith in you! We all make wrong choices at times in our life and if our close friends the ones that truly love us do nothing at all to make us aware of these wrongs they show their love to not be true love after all. We must also admonish our friends as much as we praise them. If we see them doing as they should we need to encourage them. If we see them doing wrong we need to encourage them to do right and make them aware of our sorrow for them.

2 Corinthians 2:5-8 I believe that here in these verses we have reference to 1 Corinthians 5. The meaning of this verse is not completely clear. It seems the discomfort Paul had in giving judgment over the acts of this man. Paul is saying that it not only hurt him but it hurt the whole church. The excommunication of the incestuous man had been enough suffering and Paul felt that he should now be returned to the church so the body could lift him up and help nurture him in the ways of the Lord. Paul did not want them to continue to hold things against him if he had truly repented. For them to take the offender back into the church would show him their love for him and that they had forgiven him and also God forgave him.

2 Corinthians 2:9 Even though they had accepted Paul's authority in this one case they still had not proven that they accepted it in all things. Paul was still looking for their obedience in all matters of the church.

2 Corinthians 2:10 I believe here Paul is yet giving them more encouragement to do the right thing and bring the repentant man back into the body of Believers. Paul is also assuring them he sanctions this action. He says “for even what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything,” it is determined that I have already made judgment and God has already forgiven and so have I since the man has shown repentance and you as the church should do likewise. I represent Christ in my actions and you as the body of Believers should do likewise.

2 Corinthians 2:11 The repentant man needs to be brought back into the body of Believers because it would be to Satan's advantage to keep him out of the church just like it was originally Satan's desire to keep him in the church to destroy it. But now that he has repented and made right the sin before God and man he needs to be restored so Satan does not win out over him or the church. Until this matter is settled there would be dissension in the church and between them and Paul because of Satan's attack against them continually.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 Troas was on the way from Ephesus to Macedonia on the coast of the northeastern corner of the Aegean Sea. Paul says, “when I came to Troas” (Acts 16:8 and 20:5-12 give reference to Paul's visits but not to this particular one) in order to preach the Gospel of Christ there and to meet up with Titus I found a door opened to me. Yet I had no rest because of my desire to know how you had received my sorrowful letter!

2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God,” says Paul because of his great joy in having found Titus there and in the opening of the door to receive the Gospel. The news Titus gave him of the church filled his heart with joy and thanksgiving. God was always triumphant and this proves again God's victory over Satan. The sweetness of this news was as a sweet-smelling aroma as is always when God's truth is proclaimed and received.

2 Corinthians 2:15-17 Paul is now saying that all that he has said of Christ's knowledge is for the ministers of the Gospel also. They are a sweet-smelling aroma to God when full of the knowledge of Christ. The beauty of Christ comes forth from those preaching His truth and becomes life for those willing to receive it and death for those that reject it. And no one is able to manifest all these things other than God's Holy Spirit! It is through God's Spirit we preach the Gospel of Christ and we do so in plain sight of the eyes of God! We hide nothing because nothing can be hidden from Him!

Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct us through storms, trials, good times, and all times. Father, thank You for loving us through Jesus, in Jesus name Amen!

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Pastor Thomas Miles

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