2 Corinthians 2:5-11 - Showing Magnanimity

Paul told the Corinthians he had changed his plan for good reasons. His motive was right as he was demonstrating God’s grace for the benefit of His people. In this passage, Paul was also indicating to the Corinthians that they should also make changes in some of their circumstances, plans and practices to demonstrate God’s grace. In 2 Corinthian 2:5-11, Paul then went on and dealt with an area they needed to change.

 

In 1 Corinthians 5:1 he mentioned a man who was living in a sexual relationship with his mother or step mother. In 1 Corinthians 5:2 we are told that they were apparently nonchalant and were arrogant about it. He wrote to them, in 1 Corinthians 5:4-8, to put that man out of fellowship to help bring sense to him and help him to repent. Here in 2 Corinthians 2:6, Paul picked up from that account and expressed what happened as a result of his earlier instruction. Apparently they had listened to Paul and disciplined that man. And God graciously worked in his life and he had repented. But the Corinthians, in verse 7, failed to follow-through with that man’s repentance and restore him to the fellowship. They ostracized him and continued to treat him like an outcast although he had repented of his sin. Paul said that although he, as well as the church, was grieved, they had no reason to continue to dissociate with that man after he had shown genuine repentance. So here the apostle urged them to change, and to restore him to fellowship so that he would not be overwhelmed by sorrow.

 

He asked them to forgive and comfort him. Discipline had been applied. Now forgiveness and comfort was the right thing to do. So he told them to restate their love for him. The fellowship had exercised discipline on that brother but pride was so evident in them that they would not restore him to fellowship. Although he had repented, that brother was kept in continual despair. This was a thing they should have avoided.  In verse 9 Paul said that since they had been obedient in disciplining that brother, they should now show their obedience by restoring him. This would be a test of true obedience, not just concerning this matter but also all things.  In verse 10 he told them that their forgiveness of their brother would also reflect his own forgiveness for him. When the apostle forgave he did so in the presence of the Risen Christ.

 

Paul rounded up in verse 11 telling the Corinthians to thwart the scheme of Satan and not to be outsmarted by him. We know that this enemy’s intention had always been to bring disunity between brethren. He had always been the one who had caused brethren to devour and malign each other. Whereas Christ came to bring unity in the fellowship when he died on the cross. Paul said we are not ignorant of the devil’s scheme to divide. Hence we should not give him the avenue to do so.

 

Disciplining a wrong must be done but when genuine repentance is shown, forgiveness, love and restoration should be given. The church is called into a ministry of reconciliation. We ought not to be stubborn and hardheaded allowing the devil to divide the fellowship. Pride, arrogance, bitterness, etc. are indications of one’s wilful disobedience when one chooses to remain unforgiving.