2 Corinthians 2:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

NIV: Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

NASB: so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

CSB: As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

NLT: Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.

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

NKJV: so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

A man in the church in Corinth had apparently confronted Paul in some way. Given the divisions of that church (1 Corinthians 1:10–12) he probably challenged Paul's authority as apostle and whether he had authority over the church in Corinth. In any case, this made for a painful visit for Paul when he was last in Corinth. In fact, it had brought hurt to the entire congregation (2 Corinthians 2:5). Paul had written a painful letter to the believers, explaining the need for the church to confront and deal with this sinful man. They had done so using some kind of "punishment by the majority" (2 Corinthians 2:6), and the man seems to have repented from his sin. Paul now writes that the time has come for forgiveness.

Church discipline is a difficult issue. It has been handled poorly by many well-intentioned congregations. Such discipline often involves removing the person from the community and having nothing to do with him or her, if not turning the person over to Satan as described in 1 Corinthians 5. It requires the congregation to be consistent, motivated by love, and led by men who are above reproach themselves. Based on passages like this, many churches feel led by God to exercise discipline when someone among them is involved in clear and obvious sin and refuses to repent. The goal of such discipline is first to protect the church from the sin involved and, second, to restore the individual once repentance has occurred. That's what Paul is describing in this verse.

Paul urges the Corinthians to turn back to the man who has sinned against them and to forgive and comfort him. If they don't, the man may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. If that were to happen, a main reason for the discipline would be missed. The goal is to build the man back up and welcome him into full participation in the family of faith.

Second Corinthians 2:5–11 contains Paul's agreement that a sinful man's offense was serious. Now that this man has repented in sorrow, however, Paul tells the Corinthians to stop his punishment and to forgive, comfort, and affirm their love for him. Paul knows now that they remain obedient. Forgiveness among Christians is essential in order to not be outwitted by the designs of Satan.

Paul explains why he delayed coming to visit the Corinthians. In great anguish, he had written a painful letter to tell them they must correct a man among them. This person may have challenged Paul's authority as an apostle of Jesus. The Corinthians disciplined the man, and he repented. Paul told them to forgive him. He tells of Titus failing to show up in Troas with news about the Corinthians, then transitions into teaching that Christians are the aroma of Christ on earth to everyone they know.

Second Corinthians continues uninterrupted from the previous chapter. Paul is explaining why he waited to come to Corinth. He wanted to see if they would side with him, or with the man who challenged his authority. They disciplined the man. He repented. Paul commands restoration and forgiveness. He then tells of failing to find Titus in Troas with news about them before transitioning into teaching that Christians are the aroma of Christ on earth, smelling of death to the perishing and life to those being saved. This brings Paul back to the subject of his own authority in chapter 3.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.