2 Corinthians 2:10

To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Another encouragement to their restoring the offender. They may be assured of Paul's apostolic sanction. FOR IF I FORGAVE ANY THING, TO WHOM I FORGAVE IT. 'Aleph (') A B C G f g, Vulgate, read 'for even what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven any thing.' He uses the perfect tense, as of a thing determined on; as in 1 Corinthians 5:3, or as speaking generally: IT IS FOR YOUR SAKES I have forgiven, and do forgive, that the church (of which you are members) may suffer no hurt by the loss of a soul, and that ye may learn leniency as well as faithfulness. IN THE PERSON [ en ...

10._To whom ye forgive_. That he might the more readily appease them, he added his vote in support of the pardon extended by them. (326) “Do not hesitate to forgive: I promise that I shall confirm whatever you may have done, and I already subscribe your sentence of forgiveness.” _Secondly_, he says that he does this _for their sake; _and that too, sincerely and cordially. He had already shown how desirous he was, that the man’s welfare should be consulted: he now declares, that he grants this willingly to the Corinthians. Instead of the expression _in the sight of Christ_, some prefer _person_, (327) because Paul in that reconciliation was in the room of Christ, (328) and did in a manner represent his person. (329) I am, however, more inclined to understand him as declaring, that

5-11 The apostle desires them to receive the person who had done wrong, again into their communion; for he was aware of his fault, and much afflicted under his punishment. Even sorrow for sin should not unfit for other duties, and drive to despair. Not only was there danger last Satan should get advantage, by tempting the penitent to hard thoughts of God and religion, and so drive him to despair; but against the churches and the ministers of Christ, by bringing an evil report upon Christians as unforgiving; thus making divisions, and hindering the success of the ministry. In this, as in other things, wisdom is to be used, that the ministry may not be blamed for indulging sin on the one hand, or for too great severity towards sinners on the other hand. Satan has many plans to deceive, and knows how to make a bad use of our mistakes....

Verse 2 Corinthians 2:10. _TO WHOM YE FORGIVE ANY THING_] Here he farther shows them that his sole object in the punishment inflicted on the transgressor, was his amendment and therefore promises to _ratify_, in the _name_ and _authority_ of _Christ_, the free pardon which he exhorts them to dispense. _IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST_] As I believe Christ acts towards his penitent soul, so do I. Christ forgives his sin, and takes him to his favour; let us forgive him his offence against the Church, and restore him to its communion....

TO WHOM YE FORGIVE ANYTHING - The sense here is, “I have confidence in you as a Christian society and such confidence, that if you forgive an offence in one of your members, I shall approve the act, and shall also be ready to forgive.” He refers, doubtless, to this particular case; but he makes his remark general. It is implied here, I think, that the Corinthians were disposed to forgive the offending brother; and Paul here assures them that they had his hearty assent to this, and that if they did forgive him, he was ready to join them in the act, and to forgive him also. FOR IF I FORGAVE ANYTHING - If I forgive anything; if I remit any of the punishments which have been inflicted by my authority. FOR YOUR SAKES - It is not on account of the offender alone; it is in order to promote the happiness and purity of the church....

EXPOSITION Continuation of his reasons for not coming to them direct from Ephesus (2 Corinthians 2:1). Their treatment of the incestuous offender (2 Corinthians 2:5). His thankfulness at the news which Titus had brought from Corinth (verses 12-17). 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1 BUT I DETERMINED THIS. The division of chapters is here unfortunate, since this and the next three verses belong to the paragraph which began at 2 Corinthians 1:23. The verb means, literally, "I judged," but is rightly rendered "determined," as in...

TO WHOM YE FORGIVE ANYTHING, I FORGIVE ALSO,.... This may extend to the forgiveness of any person, in any case; either in time past, or at the present time, or in time to come; though it has a particular respect to the forgiveness of the incestuous man, which the apostle had determined in his own mind, and was very ready to come into, and very desirous to join with the church in, as they had joined with him in the excommunication of him; and in order to engage them in such a temper and disposition, he tells them it was on their account he did it: FOR IF I FORGAVE ANYTHING, TO WHOM I FORGAVE IT, FOR YOUR SAKES FORGAVE I IT; which is as if he should say, whenever I have forgiven any offender, as I now do forgive this man, I always do it for your sake; either at your request, or in confidence of this, that you yourselves have forgiven; or for your good, peace, and welfare: and besides, wha...

3. HIS DEEP EXERCISE CONCERNING THEM. YET OVERCOMING. CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Burden of his Soul. (2 Corinthians 2:1 .)_ 2. Concerning the Brother who had been Disciplined. (2 Corinthians 2:5 .) 3. Overcoming. (2 Corinthians 2:12 .) In the previous chapter we read the reason why he had not gone to Corinth. “To spare you I came not to Corinth “ (2 Corinthians 1:23). He feared, that on account of their deplorable condition; exercising his God-given apostolic authority, he might appear as dominating over them. He had determined that he would not come again to them wi

Someone in the congregation at Corinth who had done wrong is now to be forgiven. There are still some scholars who think that the person here referred to is the same as the wrong-doer of 1 Corinthians 5:1, the man who had taken his father's widow (?) to wife. But Paul had solemnly adjured the Corinthian church to deliver such a one to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5 *, p. 649), evidently expecting that his death would follow. And whether or not the church had carried out his command, it is hardly credible that he would refer to the same case as he does here, saying that the punishment has been sufficient, pleading for the offender's being pardoned, emphasizing the fact that he, the apostle, has already forgiven him. Everything points, on the other hand, to a different offender and a different kind of of

WHEN A SAINT REBUKES (2 Corinthians 1:23-24 ; 2 Corinthians 2:1-4)...