Sufficient to such a man With what remarkable tenderness does the apostle treat this offender! He never once mentions his name, nor does he here so much as mention his crime; but speaks of him in the most indefinite manner that was consistent with giving such directions in his case as love required; is this punishment, inflicted by many Not only by the rulers of the church, the whole congregation acquiesced in the sentence. So that contrariwise Instead of proceeding further against him; ye ought rather to forgive him To release him from the censure, and receive him again into the church; and comfort him This penitent sinner; lest he should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow Driven to despair by the excessive grief which the continuance of your sentence might occasion. Wherefore confirm your love toward him Assure him of your love by receiving him into your favour, and by all offices of kindness. For to this end did I write Both in my former epistle that you would censure him, and now that you would release him; that I might know the proof of you That I might have experience of you; whether ye would be obedient in all things To my apostolical instructions and decisions; to whom ye forgive He makes no question of their complying with his direction; any thing So mildly does he speak of that heinous sin after it was repented of; I forgive also I also shall be ready to forgive it; if I forgave If heretofore I alone received any to mercy; for your sakes I forgave it To show you an example of lenity as well as severity; in the person of Christ In his name, and by the authority wherewith he has invested me. “St. Paul's conduct in this affair is worthy of the imitation of the ministers of the gospel. They are to do nothing to grieve their people, unless love require it for their good. And when they are obliged to have recourse to the wholesome discipline which Christ hath instituted in his church, they ought to exercise it, not from resentment, but from a tender regard to the spiritual welfare of the offender. And when he is reclaimed by the censures of the church, they ought, with joy, to restore him to the communion of the faithful, remembering that Satan is ever watchful to turn the hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows of Christians, into an occasion of their ruin.” Macknight. Lest Satan To whom he had been delivered, and who sought to destroy, not only his flesh, but his soul also; should get an advantage of us If the punishment of him be carried to any excess; and should turn that severity into an occasion of mischief to the offender, to his brethren, and to others, either by driving any to despair by too much rigour, or drawing any to profaneness by too much lenity: for the loss of one soul is a common loss. And we are not ignorant of his devices And of the great variety of stratagems which he is continually making use of to injure us, and turn even discipline itself to the reproach of the church, and the destruction of souls.
Related Commentaries of 2 Corinthians 2:6
2 Corinthians 2:6-11
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment,a 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.
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 personb of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.