2 Corinthians 2:5-8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 2:5

Verse 5 5.But if any one. Here is a third reason with the view of alleviating the offense — that he had grief in common with them, and that the occasion of it came from another quarter. “We have,” says he, “been alike grieved, and another is to blame for it.” At the same time he speaks of that person, too, somewhat mildly, when he says, if any one — not affirming the thing, but rather leaving it in suspense. This passage, however, is understood by some, as if Paul meant to say: “He that has... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 2:6

Verse 6 6.Sufficient. He now extends kindness even to the man who had sinned more grievously than the others, and on whose account his anger had been kindled against them all, inasmuch as they had connived at his crime. In his showing indulgence even to one who was deserving of severer punishment, the Corinthians have a striking instance to convince them, how much he disliked excessive harshness. It is true, that he does not act this part merely for the sake of the Corinthians, but because he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 2:7

Verse 7 7.Lest such an one should be swallowed up by overmuch sorrow The end of excommunication, so far as concerns the power of the offender, is this: that, overpowered with a sense of his sin, he may be humbled in the sight of God and the Church, and may solicit pardon with sincere dislike and confession of guilt. The man who has been brought to this, is now more in need of consolation, than of severe reproof. Hence, if you continue to deal with him harshly, it will be — not discipline, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

The uniting force of Christian love. "But I determined this with myself," etc. The subject which these words suggest is the uniting force of Christian love. We see it here uniting all its subjects in a common sympathy, a common punishment, and a common forgiveness. Here is Christian love— I. UNITING ALL ITS SUBJECTS IN A COMMON SYMPATHY . "But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

Further explanations and directions touching matters lust discussed. The most copious writer in the New Testament is the man whose inward constitution and life are most fully brought into view. If the fact itself is noteworthy, the art of its management is even more significant. Didactic treatises would have excluded this method of blending the abstract and the concrete, and therefore the epistolary form which St. Paul adopted. What do we mean by this form? Much more, indeed, than a facile... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:5

But if any have caused grief. The word "pain" or "grief" which has been so prominent in the last verses, naturally reminds St. Paul of the person whose misdoings had caused all this trouble. The "any" is in the singular. He hath not grieved me, but in part, etc. Of the various ways of taking this verse, the most tenable seems to be this: "If any one has caused pain, he has not pained me but partly (not to weigh down too heavily) all of you. St. Paul is denying that the feelings with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

The results of his letter in their treatment of the incestuous offender. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Restoring the backslider. I. CHURCH DISCIPLINE SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CHURCH . "This punishment which was inflicted by the many" ( 2 Corinthians 2:6 ). Not by an individual, be he the pope himself, nor by priests or clergy, but by the whole body of the individual Church or a majority of its members. A Christian has a right to be judged by his peers. II. CHURCH DISCIPLINE SHOULD EVER HAVE IN VIEW RESTORATION . Its object is not to punish the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

The Church's dealings with unworthy members. "The main defence of the apostle against the charge of fickleness in the nonfulfilment of his promise was that he had abstained from going to Corinth in order to spare them the sharp rebuke lag must have administered had he gone thither. A great crime had been committed; the Church had been compromised, more especially as some of the Corinthians had defended the iniquity on the ground of liberty, and St. Paul had stayed away after giving his... read more

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