2 Corinthians, Chapter 2
© Copyright 2003 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

2 Corinthians 2:1-2 
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?

God is not afraid of our so-called "self-determination," especially if those decisions point us toward joy.

Rejoicing in fellowship with the father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and with fellow believers is a Christian right.

Living is sorrow, "heaviness" is not the Christ’s way. Neither is faking it just to look good.

Our joy is to be genuine. Of all people, we should be the most joyous.

2 Corinthians 2:3-4
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.

Paul’s sorrow here concern’s the Corinthians’ level of Christian growth.

How is your perception? 

When a fellow believer goes through a difficult time, do you grieve for them? Or, do you rejoice that Christ led them to safety through that time of learning?

What did they expect from you?

Did they expect moaning and groaning? 

That says a lot about their level of growth. 

Affliction (Gr. qliyewV) speaks of a pressure situation.

All growth is made under pressure. Historically, the Church made its greatest gains during times of great pressure.

Plants must overcome the pressure of the dirt to gain to the light of the sun.

We have the help of God the Holy Spirit in overcoming the pressure of sin.

In verse 4, the phrase, "I wrote unto you" may refer to a lost letter.

2 Corinthians 2:5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

This wording is awkward. It refers to anyone within the Corinthians congregation that has caused grief.

Paul wrote, "But if any in your group has caused grief, he did not grieve me."

The word "overcharge" indicates a heavy burden. Christ came to lighten our burdens. 

Matthew 11:29---"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (NKJV)

Christ’s burden is not burdensome! We rest in His work.   

2 Corinthians 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

This section may be a reference to the incestuous affair that in part helped precipitate the letter we call 1^st Corinthians.

Paul told the Corinthians that the punishment the congregation gave was sufficient.  

2 Corinthians 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity.

For many, forgiveness is difficult. It is not so with Christ.

Jesus’ specific mission was one of forgiveness.  

2 Corinthians 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

If one falls away from following Christ, and then repents—and turns again to Him, we must---must also forgive and restore. It is not an option.

The restoration must be based in a change of heart on the part of the offending party.

No restoration to the Father is achieved without a change of heart on the part of the offending party (us). 

2 Corinthians 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Obedience to God is a precious commodity.

Romans 5:19---"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous." (NKJV)

Great things are accomplished when we are willingly obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11
10 To 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;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Forgiveness is directly related to maturity. The spiritually mature are able to forgive.

Immature Christians hang on to offenses. It is in our immaturity that Satan finds cracks in our spirit armor.

We are to forgive all that God forgives.

We are not to hang on to past abuses.

We have been forgiven in Christ, and we who are in Christ are to forgive.

"Give an advantage" implies an attempt to take advantage through fraud.

It often appears that Satan is better at his job than Christians are at theirs.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13
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.

Not long ago there was a song that told the listeners if the door was closed —look for a window. It was a cute song, but it was also theologically dimwitted. If the door is closed, stay at home!

Paul’s concern for his son-in-the-Spirit, Titus was great. That loving concern drove him to go to Macedonia.

The mark of a true Christian is not his/her love for the Church or evangelism. The true mark is love for one another.

John 13:35---"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 2:14-16
14 Now 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.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To 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?

We do not triumph because of our efforts. Any triumph we may have is due to Christ.  The Father always gives us victory in Christ!

Have you ever walked into a kitchen when bread was being baked? The odor is wonderful. It is pleasing to the senses. In like manner, our salvation is also a wonderful fragrance to the father.

All people present a fragrance to God. We are either a wonderful fragrance of life or a putrefied smell of death. Which odor do you represent? 

2 Corinthians 2:17 For 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.

Many are peddling the word of God. They are selling it to the highest bidder.

Some are giving the words of life to whomsoever will come.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (NKJV)

Chapter 3
Main Index