2 Corinthians 2:10

ᾧ δέ τι χαρίζεσθε κ. τ. λ.: but to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also; for what I also have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) for your sakes have I forgiven it in the face of Christ. This is not a general principle, but a statement of the Apostle's feelings at the present juncture; if they are willing to forgive the offender, so is he. Whether he advocates punishment or forgiveness it is always διʼ ὑμᾶς, “for your sakes,” and it is ἐν προσώπῳ Χριστοῦ, “in the sight of Christ”. πρόσωπον (see on 2 Corinthians 1:11) is a “face,” and so ἐν προσ. Χρ. is a stronger way of saying ἐνώπιον Χριστοῦ (cf. chap. 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Galatians 1:20); the Apostle claims that his acts of condemnation and forgiveness are done as “in the presence of Christ”. Both A.V. and R.V. render “in the person of Christ,” which would mean that St. Paul had acted as Christ's delegate. But the usage of πρόσωπον in 2 Cor. is against this interpretation.