2 Corinthians 2

¹ So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit.

Paul rebuked the Corinthians in his first letter. He wanted to give the Corinthians a chance to reflect upon what he had written. Therefore, Paul delayed his visit and sent Silas and Timothy in his place. Titus brought back a good report of the Corinthian's reaction to Paul's first letter. So apparently the strategy worked.

² For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad?

Paul had already rebuked the Corinthians in his first letter. He did not want to rebuke them again in person. If he hurts them and makes them sad, then who will be left to make Paul glad?

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.

Paul planned to visit Corinth again, but he wanted to visit and give a positive message about their obedience to his apostolic authority.

⁴ For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.

Paul shed a lot of tears before sending his first letter to the Corinthians, so for their sake, he had to rebuke them so that they could grow spiritually.

⁵ But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well.

Paul rebuked the Corinthians in his first letter  because they had tolerated incest in their congregation. This should sadden the congregation, because evidently, this was a brother-in-Christ, a family member.

⁶ This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him,

The Corinthians elders had listened to Paul and excommunicated him. The excommunication was a severe enough punishment that no other discipline was needed.

⁷ so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.

Since the punishment was severe enough, the congregation should forgive and comfort the fallen brother. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed with grief and feel that he has no escape.

⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

The Corinthians needed to reaffirm their love for their fallen brother.

⁹ For this reason also I wrote you, to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.

Paul gave this apostolic command to test and check the spiritual maturity of the Corinthians.

¹⁰ If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,

The Corinthian elders were to make the decision. Paul would back up whatever they decided, but he expected forgiveness.

¹¹ so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

If a congregation does not forgive and comfort a fallen brother, then they are falling into the trap of Satan. Satan wants the fallen unbeliever to walk this satanic world system on his own.

¹² Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me,

Troas was a seaport city north of Ephesus in the western Asia Minor province of Mysia. Paul did not visit the Corinthians, because God had opened him a door of evangelism in Troas.

¹³ I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.

Paul was hoping to find Titus in Troas. He was hoping that Titus would bring him good news about the Corinthians reaction to Paul's first letter. Paul was troubled in his spirit about the physical condition of Titus. Titus was carrying money, so he could have been robbed and left for dead.

Apostolic Ministry

¹⁴ But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.

Whenever a Roman General conquered a city, he returned to Rome and paraded his booty and captives throughout the streets. Incense was lit and with the combination of horse's hoofs, it produced a nice perfume-type of fragrance. Whenever a believer teaches the gospel, like the general, he is parading his booty and captives through the streets of eternity. The fragrance is sharing the knowledge of Christ, who brings salvation. This is the sweetest smell on earth!

¹⁵ For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing –

When the Roman General paraded through the streets, he marched two types of captives. The captives at the front of the parade were freed and made Roman citizens. The captives at the back of the parade were executed.

¹⁶ to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

When the gospel is proclaimed, then there will be some who listen to eternal life. There will be others who reject the gospel, causing them to eventually burn in the Lake of Fire.

¹⁷ For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the Word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

There were many false teachers who were teaching for profit. Paul did not teach for profit. He spoke for Christ before God. His teaching was sincere. His teaching came directly from God.