2 Corinthians 2 — Forgive Him, and Comfort Him
Paul explains why he delayed his visit — to spare them another painful encounter. He urges the church to forgive and restore the repentant offender (likely the man of 1 Corinthians 5), lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, and lest Satan get an advantage of us — for we are not ignorant of his devices. Paul then breaks into thanksgiving: God always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place — a sweet savour of Christ, to some the savour of death unto death, to others of life unto life. We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
— 2 Corinthians 2:14
- v.1-4 Paul's tears behind the severe letter
- v.5-11 Forgive and restore the repentant
- v.12-17 The triumph and savour of Christ
Satan exploits both laxity and severity. He would have rejoiced in the sin tolerated; now he would rejoice in the sinner crushed. Unforgiveness is a device of the devil.
Not ignorant of his devices. Spiritual warfare includes knowing the enemy's patterns — accusation, division, despair. Ignorance of his methods is itself a vulnerability.
The image is a Roman triumphal procession with incense filling the streets. Christ is the conquering general; His servants are in His train; the knowledge of Him spreads like fragrance wherever they go.
Always... in every place. The triumph is not occasional. Even Paul's restlessness at Troas (v. 13) was inside the procession. Setbacks in the itinerary are not setbacks in the campaign.
The same gospel divides its hearers. The fragrance that is life to the believing is the smell of death to the perishing — as the incense of the triumph meant celebration to citizens and execution to captives.
Who is sufficient? The question hangs until 3:5 — our sufficiency is of God. No preacher is adequate for stakes this high; that is precisely why he must preach in dependence.
Corrupt — literally to peddle, to adulterate wine for profit. Many handled the word as hucksters handle goods. Paul's test of ministry: sincerity, divine commission, and the consciousness of God's sight.
In the sight of God speak we. The cure for man-pleasing ministry is the felt audience of One. Preach as overheard by God and you cannot peddle.
Is there a repentant person you are still holding at arm's length? Verse 7 says prolonged coldness toward the penitent hands Satan an advantage. Forgive, comfort, confirm your love — the discipline that never ends in embrace was never godly discipline.
Christ is the triumphant general of verse 14 — His cross looked like defeat but was the victory parade over principalities (Colossians 2:15). Believers are the fragrance of Christ; the world's divided response to us is its response to Him.
Discipline accomplished its purpose; now it must end in restoration. A church that can only punish has learned half the gospel. Comfort him — the same word used of God in chapter 1.
Swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Even godly sorrow can become destructive if forgiveness is withheld. The goal of discipline was never destruction but recovery.