forgive and Rejoice

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

FORGIVE AND REJOICE

2 Cor 2:1-11

2:1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. 5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent — not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven — if there was anything to forgive — I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

NIV

Two things going on here. First, the idea that Paul tells them the truth. If the truth is painful to hear, then there is a problem. If the truth grieves them then they are not rejoicing in the Lord and thus making Paul glad. Hearing the truth can be a difficult thing at times and it is easy to put up our defense mechanism and either refuse to hear and admit our fault or bite back in an accusatory attack, a sort of tic-for-tat tactic. If we can defuse the truth about our fault by exposing the fault of the one bringing this truth to us, then we do not have to feel so bad about our fault, for who is without sin. But the point of exposing or telling someone of their fault is not to be accusative or should be done out of a self-righteous attitude, but out of love, wanting that person to be able to see the error of their ways to improve, to become a better person. The second thing that is going on here is there must have been someone on Corinth that did some grievous act that harmed much of the community of faith. His specific behavior is not mentioned, and it is on purpose. There is supposition among the scholars of old, but that is all it is, and their opinions may be driven by the cultural standards of their times. The truth is, we are not privy to the offense of this brother who has grieved both the church in Corinth and Paul. However, there is also enough information to understand this brother must have been punished in some way. He may have been treated in accordance with instructions to confront him and if he fails to repent remove him from fellowship in order that he would see his erroneous behavior. But there is also the instruction to forgive him. Unforgiveness is a foothold for Satan, as well as it can be destructive to our health, both spiritual and physical. Unforgiveness is contrary to love and because we have been instructed to love both our neighbor and our enemy, which could be understood to mean the person who has grievously offended us, we must forgive them. Love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Love leads to rejoicing, unforgiveness leads to distress. Let us forgive and rejoice.