2 Corinthians 7:12

Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. THOUGH I WROTE UNTO YOU - `making you sorry' (). NOT FOR - i:e., not so much for: this was subordinate to my main aim, your edification. HIS CAUSE THAT SUFFERED WRONG - the father whose wife the incestuous son had. The father, therefore, was alive. THAT OUR CARE FOR YOU ... So B, Vulgate. But C Delta read 'that YOUR care for US might be made manifest (so Greek) unto you,' etc. But the words, 'unto you,' thus would be obscure. Alford explains it: 'He wrote in order to bring out their zeal on his behalf (i:e., to obey his command), and make it manifest to themselves in God's sight.'...

11.]_Ye have approved yourselves to be clear_. The Old Interpreter reads, “Ye have shown yourselves.” Erasmus renders it, “Ye have commended yourselves.” I have preferred a third rendering, which appeared to me to suit better — that the Corinthians showed by clear evidences, that they were in no degree participants in the crime, with which they had appeared, from their connivance, to have had some connection. What those evidences were, we have already seen. At the same time, Paul does not altogether clear them, but palliates their offense. For the undue forbearance, which they had exercised, was not altogether free from blame. He acquits them, however, from the charge of concurrence. (653) We must farther observe, that he does not acquit all of them without exception, but merely the body of the Church. For it may readily be believed, that some were concerned in it, and countenanced it; b...

12-16 The apostle was not disappointed concerning them, which he signified to Titus; and he could with joy declare the confidence he had in them for the time to come. Here see the duties of a pastor and of his flock; the latter must lighten the troubles of the pastoral office, by respect and obedience; the former make a due return by his care of them, and cherish the flock by testimonies of satisfaction, joy, and tenderness....

Verse 2 Corinthians 7:12. _NOT FOR HIS CAUSE THAT HAD DONE THE WRONG_] viz. the incestuous person. _NOR FOR HIS CAUSE THAT SUFFERED WRONG_] Some think the apostle means himself; others, that he means the _Church_ at Corinth, the _singular_ being put for the _plural_; others, the _family_ of the incestuous person; and others, the _father_ of the incestuous person. If this latter opinion be adopted, it would seem to intimate that the father of this person was yet _alive_, which would make the transgression more flagrant; but these words might be spoken in reference to the father, if _dead_, whose cause should be vindicated; as his injured honour might be considered, like Abel's blood, to be crying from the earth. _BUT THAT OUR CARE FOR YOU-MIGHT APPEAR_] It was not to get the delin

WHEREFORE, THOUGH I WROTE UNTO YOU ... - In this verse Paul states the main reason why he had written to them on the subject. It was not principally on account of the man who had done the wrong, or of him who had been injured; but it was from tender anxiety for the whole church, and in order to show the deep interest which he had in their welfare. NOT FOR HIS CAUSE THAT HAD DONE THE WRONG - Not mainly, or principally on account of the incestuous person; 1 Corinthians 5:1. It was not primarily with reference to him as an individual that I wrote, but from a regard to the whole church. NOR FOR HIS CAUSE THAT SUFFERED WRONG - Not merely that the wrong which he had suffered might be rectified, and that his rights might be restored, valuable and desirable as was that object

EXPOSITION Conclusion of his appeal (2 Corinthians 7:1). The apostle's feelings towards them (2 Corinthians 7:2). Explanation of the objects of his last letter, and expression of his joy at the good results it had brought about (2 Corinthians 7:2). 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 HAVING THEN THESE PROMISES. The promises of God's indwelling and fatherly love (2 Corinthians 6:16). DEARLY BELOVED. Perhaps the word is added to soften the ster

WHEREFORE, THOUGH L WROTE UNTO YOU,.... Meaning in his former epistle, with so much sharpness and severity, and as may have been thought too much: I DID IT NOT FOR HIS CAUSE THAT HAD DONE THE WRONG; not for the sake of the incestuous person only and chiefly, not merely for his correction and restoration; though these things were intended, and earnestly desired by the apostle: NOR FOR HIS CAUSE THAT SUFFERED WRONG: that is, the father of the incestuous person, who had been injured by this wicked action; it was not only or merely out of favour and respect to him, and that some compensation should be made to him in a church way, by detesting the crime, casting out the offender, and declaring themselves on the side of the injured person, and against him that had done the injury: BUT THAT OUR CARE FOR YOU, IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, MIGHT APPEAR UNTO YOU: some copies, and the Complutensian editi...

8. THE APOSTLE'S EXHORTATIONS AND REJOICINGS. CHAPTER 6:14-7 _ 1. His Exhortations. (2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1 .)_ 2. His Rejoicing and Confidence. (2 Corinthians 7:2 .) The first exhortation is to separation from evil, without which no true fellowship with God can be enjoyed. It is one of the most important exhortations in the Pauline epistles, and greatly needed in our days of laxity and worldliness among Christians. God calls His people to holiness. “But as He who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” He has separated us from the world which lieth in the wicked one

AGONISING ANXIETY HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY ABUNDANT JOY. The cause of his anxiety had been in part the condition of affairs in the church at Corinth, but even more the measures he had taken to deal with it, followed by torturing doubt as to how these would be received by the Corinthians. Someone had behaved outrageously. Someone had been outraged. There can be no doubt that it was Paul who had suffered, though whether he was personally present or what was the nature of the outrage we cannot tell. What made it serious was that the Corinthians had not repudiated the insult to their friend. Stung by their fickleness, and moved by fear lest they should fall away altogether from himself and the gospel, Paul had written a letter so severe that from the moment he despatched it, probably by the hand of Titus, he was torn with anxiety lest it should have the very opposite effect to what he desired....

GET YOU OUT (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ; 2 Corinthians 7:1) 7:1 Do not allow yourselves to become joined in an alien yoke with unbelievers. What partnership can there be between righteousness and lawlessness? What fellowship can darkness have with light? What concord can there be with Christ and Belial? What share can the believer have with the unbeliever? What agreement can the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, even as God said, "I will dwell in them and I will walk in them, and I will be their God and they will be my people." Therefore, "Come out from among them and separate yourselves," the Lord says, "and, have no contact with impurity, and I will receive you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters