2 Corinthians 2:1-17
Forgiveness for the Sinner
1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
Forgiveness for the Sinner
5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Ministers of the New Covenant
12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.
14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
St. Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthians...In his first letter there was some people in the church causing division...St. Paul thought now that the punishment phase and disciplining of those should be done...It is time to forgive...He shares the difficulty and grief of the group of having to punish the one causing the problems...Confrontation and discipline is never easy thing...
St. Paul in verse seven mentions the person had felt sorrowful and that more disciple could create excessive sorrow...In every group, when discipline is discussed some believe there is not enough (discipline) and others in the group feel it is too much...St. Paul says the sorrow is there from the accused individual and it is now time to forgive...He not only wants the Corinthians to forgive, but now he wants them to comfort the one charged...
The Corinthians were to confront the person charged with dividing the church, then they were to discipline him...Then they were to forgive him...Next they were to comfort him...Now St. Paul asks them to reaffirm there love for that individual...He wants the Corinthians to be obedient and forgiving...If the church forgives the individual then he will forgive the individual...Then it is time to love and move on...This is almost like an oldest child disciplining the youngest and St. Paul, acting as parent, is watching (the act and the process of disciplining and forgiving)...
St. Paul reminds the Corinthians to be on guard against the evil one...The evil one would want to further divide the church and he (St. Paul) knows of the importance of putting issues like these behind one quickly, and not letting them linger on and on...Dragging out issues like these only kept the problem out there...One's talk and thoughts about these issues remain can remain a sore spot and future trouble...You must move ahead after the process, to be able to get issues like this behind you...
So St. Paul teaches us the process of discipline and forgiveness...Confront, discipline, forgive, comfort, reaffirm your love, do it in a time frame that does not allow further alienation and division...Then move on with things...You must move on...Do not hold grudges, forgiving is forgiving...Forgiving is taught in the LORD's prayer...Continued focus on old issues could further divide...Without this process the problem could continue and you as a group or individual may not be able to move on...