2 Corinthians 2

Paul explains his decision to write a letter instead of making a sorrowful visit, aiming for their correction out of love. He then urges the Corinthians to forgive and comfort an offending brother, lest he be overwhelmed by sorrow and to prevent Satan's advantage. Finally, Paul expresses gratitude to God, who leads them in triumph and makes them a sweet savour of Christ, contrasting his sincere ministry with those who corrupt God's word.

Paul clarifies his previous decision to write a letter from a place of much affliction and tears, rather than visiting them again in heaviness. His intent was not to grieve them, but to convey his abundant love and prompt their correction, ensuring their joy would be his. He then addresses the case of an individual who caused grief, stating that the punishment inflicted by the majority was sufficient. Paul earnestly beseeches the Corinthians to forgive and comfort this person, demonstrating their love and obedience, lest he be swallowed up by excessive sorrow or Satan gain an advantage. He affirms his own forgiveness in the person of Christ for their sakes. Paul then recounts his journey to Troas for gospel preaching, where despite an open door, his spirit was troubled by the absence of Titus, leading him to proceed to Macedonia. He concludes with an expression of thanksgiving to God, who always leads them in triumph through Christ, manifesting the knowledge of Him everywhere. Paul describes believers as a sweet savour of Christ to God, a savour of life to the saved and death to the perishing, emphasizing his sincere and God-given ministry.

Paul begins by explaining his deliberate choice not to return to Corinth in a state of heaviness, reasoning that if he caused them sorrow, he would lose his own source of joy. He reveals that he wrote a previous letter out of much affliction, anguish of heart, and many tears, not to cause them grief, but to demonstrate his abundant love and to prompt their necessary correction. His confidence in their collective joy was paramount. Addressing the specific case of an individual who had caused grief, Paul states that the punishment inflicted by the majority was sufficient. He therefore urges the Corinthians to reverse their stance, forgiving and comforting the man, lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Paul emphasizes the importance of confirming their love toward this individual, noting that his letter also served to test their obedience in all matters. He assures them that his own forgiveness of the offender is for their sakes, granted in the person of Christ, to prevent Satan from gaining an advantage through unmercifulness, as they are not ignorant of his devices. Paul then shifts to a personal account, describing his journey to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, where the Lord had opened a door for ministry. However, he found no rest in his spirit because his brother Titus was absent, leading him to depart from Troas and travel into Macedonia. He then breaks into an expression of profound thanksgiving to God, who consistently leads believers in triumph through Christ. God uses them to manifest the sweet savour of His knowledge in every place. Paul elaborates on this metaphor, stating that they are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, both among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the latter, they are the savour of death unto death, but to the former, they are the savour of life unto life. He humbly questions who is sufficient for such a weighty ministry. Finally, Paul distinguishes his ministry from many others, asserting that they do not corrupt the word of God, but speak with sincerity, as from God, and in the very sight of God, in Christ.