Chapter 2: 2 Corinthians 2:1-17, triumph in Christ
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom, insight, understanding, knowledge, and discernment in rightly dividing the word of truth. We pray for spiritual gifts, spiritual truths, daily bread, living water, living word, and living manna, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
VV 1-2, 1 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
Paul’s previous visit to Corinth was painful because he came to them in sorrow. Paul asked 1 rhetorical question.
VV 3-4, 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
Paul worried that his next visit to Corinth would be another painful visit, but was confident that his next visit to them would be joyful. Paul’s had written a previous painful letter with many tears, out of affliction and anguish of heart. This letter was lost in history and could not be found. Paul confessed his love for the Corinthians Christians. Greek for love is “agape”, which means unconditional and sacrificial love.
VV 5-11, 5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent, not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The man in verse 6 was the same man in 1 Corinthians 5:1, who had committed the incest. Because the man had repented of his sin, Paul pleaded for his forgiveness and restoration into church fellowship. Paul was testing their obedience. Paul had forgiven that man in the presence of Christ and pleaded with his audience to do the same. They should not allow satan to take advantage of the situation by not forgiving.
VV 12-13, 12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
When Paul came to Troas, he found an open door to gospel preaching, but he was burdened in spirit because he did not find Titus there. He left Troas with a heaviness of heart to look for Titus in Macedonia and found him there.
VV 14-17, 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Paul thanked God for leading him to victory in Christ. Christians carried the aroma of Christ’s life to those who believe, but the aroma of death to those who do not believe. Paul asked 1 rhetorical question. Paul preached the word of God with sincerity of heart.
Application:
If a brother or sister sinned against us but came back with repentance, then we should forgive that person. As long as there is repentance, there should forgiveness, irrespective of how many times this had happened.
Matthew 18:21-22, The Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven time? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven times”.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for always leading us to triumph in Christ. Help us to spread the fragrance of Christ’s life to others. Help us to share the gospel to others with sincerity of heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
