2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11
23But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare
you that I did not come again to Corinth. 24I do not mean to imply that we lord
it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you
stand firm in the faith.
2So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit.
2For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have
pained? 3And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain
from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of
you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you. 4For I wrote you out of much
distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but
to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
5But if anyone has caused pain,
he has caused it not to me, but to some extent—not to exaggerate it—to all of
you. 6This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; 7so now
instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed
by excessive sorrow. 8So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 9I wrote for
this reason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything.
10Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have
forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ. 11And we
do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of
his designs.
Paul had planned to make another visit to the church in
Corinth, but there has been a change in plans.
Paul had experienced some tense pressures and suffering, he even states
these were far beyond his ability to endure.
God helped them prevail and now it is on God they set their hope.
Paul expresses his reasons for changing his plans. What does it mean that Jesus is the “Yes” of
Gods’ promise to us?
Apparently people are experiencing suffering and no matter
what, Paul tells them they ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will
not be overwhelmed by excess sorrow.
Reaffirm love for him.
Have you had a situation in your life where you have or had
trouble forgiving? How was that
unforgiveness in your life? How much did
you think about it or how much did it occupy your mind? How did that help or hurt you in making
decisions?
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