2 Corinthians 2:1-4

1: But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2: For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?
3: This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
4: For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

*** 

This chapter begins by continuing the thought that Paul did not come to visit the Corinthians on his way to Macedonia to spare them, because he did not want to come to them in sorrow again. Apparently, he had already come once in person to correct them, and he wanted this trip to be joyful. Not only for their sake, but his.

He didn’t enjoy correcting them. He preferred joy and gladness in his visits. Yet even though he didn’t enjoy making them sorrowful—by correcting their sinful behavior—they did end up making him glad by repenting of the sin, properly addressing it, and making things right before God. For that is what truly made Paul happy, was to see them right with God.

So, he wrote what he did, addressed what was wrong before the Lord, being confident that they would listen and repent of those things. Again, he didn’t enjoy using the “rod of correction,” but wrote with affliction, anguish of heart, and many tears. His motive was not simply to make them sorrowful. On the contrary, it was to let them know of his love for them. 

A parent corrects a child because of their love for them—to protect them, teach them, and prepare them for life and death. They do it even though it hurts to see the child cry from the discipline. So did Paul correct them out of love for them, so when he saw them in person, they could rejoice with each other.

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