2 Corinthians 2
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Attitude toward reproof
Opportunities at Troas and Macedonia
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Text
Comments
.1 ¶ But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
.2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
.3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; 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 unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
  3 - This same unto you May be better translated "this very thing."
  4 - Many tears Paul's rebukes were not in anger but sorrow ac2031, ph0318. The rebukes of Jesus would have been in the same spirit — a model for us.
 5 ¶ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
 6  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
 7  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
 8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
  5 - Caused grief But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure--not to put it too severely--to you all. (RSV).
  6 - Sufficient The discipline administered by the church was enough.
   
 9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
 10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
 11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
  11 - Lest Satan Restoration should follow discipline. Harsh or misguided discipline gives Satan the opportunity to push the offender away. Compare 1co0504.
.12 ¶ Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
.13  I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
  12 - Door was opened This could be a door to Macedonia although it might be better understood as an acceptance of opportunity in Troas. Many doors had been opened for Paul 2co0108. Find Troas near the top of the Greece map.
 14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour [fragrance] of his knowledge by us in every place.
.15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
 16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
 17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word; but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (RSV)
  14 - Triumph We may be overcomers re0321. Our only problem is wanting to hold on to our sinful habits. Even these God will give us the strength to stop. He doesn't remove the test. If He did, it would be at the sacrifice of our freedom to choose and it would destroy the love relationship.
  16 - Savor ("fragrance" or "smell") of death This is sad. Those who have permanently turned away from Christ have lost the Holy Spirit who draws us. They know their destiny but don't want ours.
  16 - Who is sufficient? Paul compares his ministry to that of those preaching other things. The question is for us, too. We justly feel inadequate to represent the fragrance of Christ. We need grace for that, too.
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