2 Corinthians 2:1-11: a reflection

1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? 3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you. 4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you. 5But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. 6This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one; 7so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. 8Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him. 9For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 10Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Paul writes about someone in the church who had sinned and been disciplined by the congregation. But now, Paul urges, the time has come for a different response: You should rather forgive and comfort him, lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Reaffirm your love for him. The purpose of the discipline had been achieved; and now, Paul says, the man should be forgiven, comforted, and restored, lest he be swallowed up by excessive grief. Discipline's goal was restoration, not destruction.

Notice Paul's concern: that the repentant offender be forgiven and restored, not crushed by excessive sorrow. The man had sinned and been disciplined; but now Paul urges forgiveness, comfort, and the reaffirming of love, lest the man be overwhelmed by his grief. The goal of the discipline had not been to destroy the man, but to bring him to repentance; and now that this was achieved, the loving response was to forgive, comfort, and restore him, not to leave him crushed. Discipline aimed at restoration, and now restoration was to follow.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can be harsh with those who have sinned and repented, continuing to hold their sin against them, leaving them crushed rather than restored. But Paul urges forgiveness, comfort, and the reaffirming of love toward the repentant, lest they be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. The goal is restoration, not destruction. When someone has sinned and repented, do not continue to hold their sin against them, leaving them crushed; forgive them, comfort them, reaffirm your love, and help restore them, as Paul urged. Discipline aims at restoration, not destruction; and the repentant are to be forgiven and restored, not left to be swallowed up by excessive sorrow. Be quick to forgive and restore the repentant, comforting rather than crushing them, reaffirming your love, as Paul urged the church to do, lest the repentant be overwhelmed by grief; for the goal is always restoration, and the repentant offender is to be received back with forgiveness and love, not left crushed under a sorrow too great to bear.

Lord, Paul writes about someone in the church who had sinned and been disciplined, but now urges a different response: you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow; reaffirm your love for him. The discipline's goal had been achieved; and now the man should be forgiven, comforted, and restored, not left crushed. Show me Paul's concern: that the repentant offender be forgiven and restored, not crushed by excessive sorrow. The goal of the discipline had not been to destroy the man, but to bring him to repentance; and now the loving response was to forgive, comfort, and restore. Take that to my heart, for I can be harsh with those who have sinned and repented, continuing to hold their sin against them, leaving them crushed rather than restored. But Paul urges forgiveness, comfort, and the reaffirming of love toward the repentant. The goal is restoration, not destruction. When someone has sinned and repented, keep me from continuing to hold their sin against them, leaving them crushed; help me forgive them, comfort them, reaffirm my love, and help restore them, as Paul urged. Discipline aims at restoration; the repentant are to be forgiven and restored, not left to be swallowed up by sorrow. Help me be quick to forgive and restore the repentant, Lord, comforting rather than crushing them, reaffirming my love, as Paul urged; for the goal is always restoration. Help me restore the repentant with forgiveness and love.