Bible IndexContentsHome...Saved?..Pray...Free...Bible...Shop...Learn...Worship...U.S.B.S...Contact Us
 
 

Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Corinthians Chapter 2 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Paul
Date Penned: (55-57 AD)
Overview: Paul Addresses the Church (c 1-13)
Theme: Paul Explains His Actions (c 1-2)
Message: Paul Address the New Covenant (v 1-17)

2 Corinthians 2 Commentary

(2:1-11) Forgiveness for the Sinner - After explaining in general terms why he had delayed his visit to Corinth (see 1:12–2:4), Paul addressed the specific confrontation that most likely had led to his decision to cancel his visit. Paul doesn’t name the offender who had caused the trouble the last time he was in Corinth, but he does instruct the church on how to handle this man. It was essential that the church act quickly to forgive and restore this man, while he was still repentant. Church discipline should always seek the restoration of the offender. Two mistakes in church discipline should be avoided—being too lenient by not correcting mistakes and being too harsh by not forgiving the sinner. There is a time to confront and a time to comfort.

(2:12-17) Ministers of the New Covenant - Paul spent the first two chapters of 2 Corinthians chronicling his ministry. He had suffered severe affliction in Asia (1:8-10). Criticism of his integrity plagued him in Corinth (1:17-20). The situation was so bad that some person had publicly confronted Paul during a visit. In response, with sorrow and tears, Paul had to write a stern letter of warning (2:1-4). Then, because he was plagued with concern over Titus’s welfare and the status of the Corinthian church, Paul had to pass over a definite opportunity to preach the gospel in Troas (2:12-13). Most missionaries would hesitate to write such a report to their supporters. Opposition, conflict, and distress faced Paul at every turn. Paul interrupted this sad tale with a burst of heartfelt praise. One of the clear emphases of 2 Corinthians is God’s ability to transform suffering and weakness into victory for the gospel.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Biblical Discipline

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of 2nd Corinthians with Chapter 2 and in our text we see Paul explaining to the Church in Corinth that when they use discipline to reinstate the repentant sinner with love. In making application we see the Biblical example for Discipline as it does not ignore the sin but is there to lovingly reinstate the repentant sinner into the body of Christ with total forgiveness. How about you? Do you see the purpose for Discipline? Let us learn from our text today and the description of Paul to see that Biblical Discipline does not ignore sin but is here to lovingly reinstate the repentant sinner into the Body of Christ.

 

.
2 Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 2

 1But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

 2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

 3And 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.

 4For 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.

 5But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

 6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

 7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

 8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

 9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

 10To 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 person of Christ;

 11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

 13I 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.

 14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

 15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

 16To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

 17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.