2 Corinthians 2:9

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. FOR. Additional reason why they should restore him-namely, as a "proof" of their obedience "in all things;" now in love, as previously in punishing (), at Paul's desire. Besides other reasons for deferring his visit, he wished to make an experiment of their fidelity. Hence, he deferred to give, in his first letter, the reason for his change of plan (resolved on before writing it). The full discovery of his motive comes naturally from him now, in the second letter, after he had seen the success of his measures, but would not have been seasonable before. All this is as remote as possible from imposture (Paley). The interchange of feeling is marked (), "I wrote unto you .....

9._For I had written to you also for this purpose. _He anticipates an objection, that they might bring forward. “What then did you mean, when you were so very indignant, because we had not inflicted punishment upon him? From being so stern a judge, to become all at once a defender — is not this indicative of a man, that wavers between conflicting dispositions?” (324) This idea might detract greatly from Paul’s authority; but he answers, that he has obtained what he asked, and that he was therefore satisfied, so that he must now give way to compassion. For, their carelessness having been corrected, there was nothing to hinder their lifting up the man by their clemency, when now prostrate and downcast. (325)...

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 2:9. _FOR TO THIS END ALSO DID I WRITE_] εγραψα, _I have_ _written_ this also, the advices and commands which I now give you, _that I might know whether ye be obedient in all things_....

FOR TO THIS END ALSO DID I WRITE - The apostle did not say that this was the only purpose of his writing, to induce them to excommunicate the offender. He does not say that he wished in an arbitrary manner to test their willingness to obey him, or to induce them to do a thing in itself wrong, in order to try their obedience. But the meaning is this: This was the main reason why he wrote to them, rather than to come personally among them. The thing ought to have been done; the offender ought to be punished; and Paul says that he adopted the method of writing to them rather than of coming among them in person, in order to give them an opportunity to show whether they were disposed to be obedient. And the sense is, “You may now forgive him. He has not only been sufficiently punished, and he has not only evinced suitable penitence, but also another object which I had in view has been accompl...

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...

FOR TO THIS END ALSO DID I WRITE,.... Or "I have written", both in this and in his former epistle to them, and in both with this view, THAT I MIGHT KNOW THE PROOF OF YOU; that he might try, prove, and know them: WHETHER YE BE OBEDIENT IN ALL THINGS; he wrote unto them in his former epistle, to put away that wicked man from them; which he did not do, merely to reproach the man, and fix a brand of infamy on him; nor merely to grieve and afflict their minds; nor only to show his own power and authority, which he as an apostle had received from Christ, but to make trial of their obedience; and he had had a proof of it in their rejection of him; and now he writes unto them, that since this man was truly humbled for his sin, and had repentance unto life not to be repented of, that they would as cheerfully receive him, and restore him to his place; that as the apostle had a proof of their obe...

2 CORINTHIANS 2:9 eiv {A} The omission of eiv by î46 436 2495 is accidental, occasioned by the juxtaposition of eiv and eivj. The reading h|- (“whereby”), which is narrowly supported (A B 33), may have arisen as a mere orthographic variant (in later Greek eiv and h|- were pronounced alike). The reading w`j (460 1836 copsa?) may have originated through palaeographical confusion (umw=eieic); in any case its external support is negligible, while eiv is strongly supported by a C D G K L O...

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