(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. (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. (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 anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, 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. (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.
The greater part of the subject, connected with those verses, is of a personal nature, and hath reference to some events, which took place in the Church of Corinth, which the Apostle had thought it necessary to reprove. But with that tenderness which distinguished Paul's character, fearing he might have used more sharpness, than the persons conceived necessary, he here aims to soften all the former asperity, and to sooth their minds with love. Our great improvement from the passage will be to observe, how much grace, and wisdom it requires, in cases of Church government, to know how to temper suited firmness in reprehension, with tenderness and compassion; lest, as the Apostle saith, Satan should take advantage of the corruption of the mind, and stir up schism in the Church of God.