2 Corinthians 2:5-11

5: But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—in order not to say too much—to all of you.
6: Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,
7: so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
8: Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
9: For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10: But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11: so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

*** 

Paul next addressed the scandal which was the main cause of the sorrow he spoke of. The scandal he was referring to was the one he addressed in 1 Corinthians 5; the man who was having immoral relations with his stepmother. He said he was not as affected by it as much as they at the Corinthian Church were, yet he did sorrow over it.

Paul advised them in his previous letter that the man be delivered “to Satan for the destruction of his flesh,” meaning excommunication from the church, which could also include bodily disease. Remember the goal was that his “spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” The purpose of this action toward the man was for his salvation, not destruction. The majority of the church executed this punishment toward him.

Since this had been done, Paul said to forgive the man and comfort him, so he was not driven to despair. He said to reaffirm their love for him. They were to welcome him back into the fold and restore him in spirit and body. By this we know the man sincerely repented.

Paul wrote these things to see, first of all, whether they would address the sin, and here to see whether they would forgive and restore him back into the fold, which oftentimes is the harder part. It’s important to be able to do both—to confront when necessary, but then to forgive when one repents. Paul said he forgave him too.

We must have a tender heart with the goal of restoration whenever possible. This is so Satan will not be able to take advantage of us. We are not ignorant of his schemes. On the one hand he’ll lead a person into sin if he can, on the other hand he’ll try to promote unforgiveness to prevent the restoration of a person who repents. We are not unaware of his many schemes. We must stay alert and not get caught up in them.


 

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