2 Corinthians 2:4,5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart The word συνοχης, here rendered anguish, “denotes the pain which a person feels, who is pressed on every side, without any possibility of disengaging himself, Luke 21:25. I wrote unto you with many tears So it seems he frequently did: see Philippians 3:18. Not so much that ye should be grieved I did not design, in writing, to cause you to grieve more than was necessary in order to your repentance and reformation; but that ye might know By one of the most genuine tokens which it was possible for me to give, namely, by my faithful admonitions and reproofs, my abundant love toward you. But if any Or if a certain person, have caused grief To me and others; he hath not grieved me but in part Who still rejoice over the greater part of you. That I may not overcharge you all That I may not lay a load of accusation on you all indiscriminately, as having encouraged him in his crime, or having taken part with such an offender in afflicting me. In this and the following verses, the apostle gave a remarkable proof of that love which, in 2 Corinthians 2:4, he had expressed toward the Corinthians. 1st, Making a distinction between the guilty and the innocent; 2d, Forgiving the incestuous person, who, it appears, had repented of his crimes; 2 Corinthians 2:6; and, 3d, Ordering the church likewise to forgive him, and confirm their love to him, that he might not be swallowed up by excessive grief.