2 Corinthians 1:23-24
23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
24 Not that we [a]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
2 Corinthians 2:1-11
Paul Urges Forgiveness
2 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.
2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
Forgive the Offender
3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much [a]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
7 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.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [b]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Context
- How was Paul ‘working for their joy’? (1 Corinthians 4:19, 2Cor 1:23, 24, Hebrews 13:7)
Reflection
- What kind of love did he have for them (v. 4)? (Proverbs 9:8, 13:24, 1 Corinthians 1:4-6, 16:24, 2 Corinthians 1:6, 7, 12:14, 15)
- Why was forgiveness called for in the Corinthian church? (1 Corinthians 1:11-13, 5:1, 2 , 2 Corinthians 7:8-12)
- How was Paul himself transformed by forgiveness? (Psalm 8:12, Acts 22:14-16, 19-21, 1 Corinthians 15:7-10)
- How does the enemy take advantage of our unforgiveness? (Ephesians 4:27, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Hebrews 12:14, 15)
Testimony Time
- How has God forgiven you? (Psalm 103:3, 4, 12, Luke 15:17, Ephesians 1:7, 2:1-4, 1 John 1:9, 4:7-11)
- How am I forgiving others? (Matthew 5:23, 24, 18:21, 22, Luke 11:4, Ephesians 4;32, 1 Peter 2:21)