REBUKE AND FORGIVE
Key verse: 2:4b
NIV
23 I call God as my witness(A)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(B) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(C) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(D) 2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(E) 2 For if I grieve you,(F) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did,(G) so that when I came I would not be distressed(H) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(I) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you(J) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
Forgiveness for the Offender
5 If anyone has caused grief,(K) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment(L) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,(M) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you(N) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.(O) 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan(P) might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.(Q)
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 : S Ro 1:9
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 : 1Co 4:21; 2Co 2:1, 3; 13:2, 10
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Pe 5:3
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 : Ro 11:20; 1Co 15:1
- 2 Corinthians 2:1 : S 2Co 1:23
- 2 Corinthians 2:2 : 2Co 7:8
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : ver 4, 9; 2Co 7:8, 12
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : 2Co 12:21
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : 2Co 7:16; 8:22; Gal 5:10; 2Th 3:4; Phm 21
- 2 Corinthians 2:4 : ver 3, 9; 2Co 7:8, 12
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 : 1Co 5:1, 2
- 2 Corinthians 2:6 : 1Co 5:4, 5; 2Co 7:11
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 : Gal 6:1; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 : ver 3, 4; 2Co 7:8, 12
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 : 2Co 7:15; 10:6
- 2 Corinthians 2:11 : S Mt 4:10
- 2 Corinthians 2:11 : Lk 22:31; 2Co 4:4; 1Pe 5:8, 9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
23 But (A)I call God to witness against me—it was (B)to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we (C)lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm (D)in your faith.
2 For I made up my mind (E)not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For (F)if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, (G)for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For (H)I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
Forgive the Sinner
5 Now (I)if anyone has caused pain, (J)he has caused it not to me, but (K)in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, (L)this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so (M)you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might (N)test you and know (O)whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for (P)we are not ignorant of his designs.
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 : [Gal. 1:20]; See Rom. 1:9
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 : ch. 2:1, 3; See 1 Cor. 4:21
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 : 1 Pet. 5:3; [ch. 4:5; Matt. 23:8-10]
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 : Rom. 11:20; See 1 Cor. 15:1
- 2 Corinthians 2:1 : ch. 1:23; [ch. 12:20, 21; 13:10]
- 2 Corinthians 2:2 : [ch. 7:8]
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : ch. 8:22; Gal. 5:10; 2 Thess. 3:4; [ch. 7:16]
- 2 Corinthians 2:4 : ch. 7:8, 12; See Acts 20:19
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 : [1 Cor. 5:1, 2]
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 : [Gal. 4:12]
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 : ch. 1:14
- 2 Corinthians 2:6 : 1 Cor. 5:4, 5; [ch. 7:11]
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 : Gal. 6:1; [Eph. 4:32]
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 : Phil. 2:22
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 : ch. 7:15; 10:6
- 2 Corinthians 2:11 : See 1 Pet. 5:8
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Real love rebukes sin (1:23-2:4)
There was one in the fellowship who lived in sin. This was why Paul had changed his plans about visiting them. He had written them a prayerful and painful letter, rebuking them for ignoring the problem. It grieved him to cause them pain. But he rebuked them because he loved them. He was convinced that God would work among them to bring repentance. True repentance brings joy. Those whose love is rooted in God's love must rebuke when rebuking is needed.
2. Now, forgive (5-11)
The Christians in Corinth had obeyed Paul and excluded the sinful brother until he repented. Now was the time to forgive him and restore him to the fellowship. Satan finds opportunities to work among us when we ignore sin in the fellowship of believers. He also works when we do not forgive and help those who repent. We must not hold a grudge or lord it over a repentant sinner.
Prayer: Lord, teach me your redeeming love for my brothers and sisters so that Satan might not outwit us.
One Word: To let you know my love
