2 Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 2 is the second chapter of 2 Corinthians. At the end of chapter 1, Paul explains why he changed his plans to visit Corinth, and chapter 2 continues that explanation.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 Paul explains that he decided not to come to them again in sorrow. Instead, out of much affliction and anguish of heart, he wrote to them with many tears. He states that the letter was meant not to grieve them but to let them know the abundant love he had for them.
• Verses 5–11 Paul says that the punishment inflicted by the many on the one who had caused grief is sufficient. He therefore urges them now to forgive and comfort him and to confirm their love toward him. He says that anyone they forgive, he forgives as well, and explains that this is done so that Satan might not get an advantage over them.
• Verses 12–13 Paul went to Troas to preach the gospel, and a door was opened to him there. Yet he had no rest in his spirit because he did not find his brother Titus, so he took leave of the people there and went on to Macedonia.
• Verses 14–17 Paul gives thanks to God, who always causes them to triumph in Christ. He says that they are "a sweet savour of Christ" both among those who are saved and among those who perish, and declares that, unlike many, they do not corrupt the word of God but speak it in sincerity.

Key Verses

• 2 Corinthians 2:4 "I wrote unto you with many tears" — This verse refers to the so-called "tearful letter." It is an important piece of evidence for reconstructing the circumstances in which this epistle was written.
• 2 Corinthians 2:7 "Ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him" — This verse is frequently cited in support of the view that the purpose of church discipline is restoration rather than punishment.
• 2 Corinthians 2:15 "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ" — This is a well-known image comparing the believer's life and the proclamation of the gospel to a fragrance.

People and Places

• Paul — The apostle who wrote this letter.
• Titus — Paul's co-worker, from whom Paul was waiting to hear news of the Corinthian church.
• Troas — A port city in northwestern Asia Minor.
• Macedonia — A region in northern Greece, where Philippi and Thessalonica were located.
• Corinth — The city where the church receiving the letter was located.

Points to Consider

• The one who caused grief: The text does not identify this person. Since the early church, a tradition of interpretation has identified him with the sexually immoral man of 1 Corinthians 5. Many scholars, however, regard him as a different person who opposed Paul during his previous visit.
• The tearful letter: Opinions are also divided regarding the letter mentioned in verse 4. Some identify it with 1 Corinthians, while others regard it as a separate letter that is no longer extant. Still others hold that this letter is preserved in 2 Corinthians 10–13.
• "Again in heaviness": Verse 1 implies that Paul had previously made a painful visit to Corinth. This visit is not recorded in Acts.
• The imagery of verse 14: Many interpreters understand the word rendered "causeth us to triumph" as referring to the triumphal procession of a Roman general. Following this interpretation, some also connect the incense burned in such a procession with the image of fragrance in verse 15.
• "Corrupt" in verse 17: The original word is understood to carry the nuance of a merchant diluting his wares with water before selling them. For this reason, some translations render it as peddling the word for profit.
• The continuing narrative: The account of Macedonia and Titus, broken off at verse 13, resumes at verse 5 of 2 Corinthians 7. The material in between is a lengthy discussion of the apostolic ministry.