2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
Forgiveness for the Offender
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Ministers of the New Covenant
12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
NOTES:
2:3–4 I wrote as I did: we learn for the first time about
the sending of a letter in place of the proposed visit. Paul mentions the
letter in passing, but emphasizes his motivation in sending it: to avoid being
saddened by them (cf. 1 Cor 2:1), and to help them realize the depth of his
love. Another motive will be added in 2 Cor 7:12—to bring to light their own
concern for him. With many tears: it has been suggested that we may have all or
part of this “tearful letter” somewhere in the Corinthian correspondence,
either in 1 Cor 5 (the case of the incestuous man), or in 1 Corinthians as a
whole, or in 2 Cor 2:10–13. None of these hypotheses is entirely convincing.
See note on 2 Cor 13:1.
2:5–11 The nature of the pain (2 Cor 2:5) is unclear, though
some believe an individual at Corinth rejected Paul’s authority, thereby
scandalizing many in the community. In any case, action has been taken, and
Paul judges the measures adequate to right the situation (2 Cor 2:6). The
follow-up directives he now gives are entirely positive: forgive, encourage,
love. Overwhelmed (2 Cor 2:7): a vivid metaphor (literally “swallowed”) that
Paul employs positively at 2 Cor 5:4 and in 1 Cor 15:54 (2 Cor 2:7). It is
often used to describe the satanic activity (cf. 1 Pt 5:8); note the reference to
Satan here in 2 Cor 2:11.
2:12–13 I had no relief: Paul does not explain the reason
for his anxiety until he resumes the thread of his narrative at 2 Cor 7:5: he
was waiting to hear how the Corinthians would respond to his letter. Since 2
Cor 7:5–16 describes their response in entirely positive terms, we never learn
in detail why he found it necessary to defend and justify his change of plans,
as in 2 Cor 1:15–24. Was this portion of the letter written before the arrival
of Titus with his good news (2 Cor 7:6–7)?
2:13 Macedonia: a Roman province in northern Greece.
2:14–7:4 This section constitutes a digression within the
narrative of the crisis and its resolution (2 Cor 1:12–2:13 and 2 Cor 7:5–16).
The main component (2 Cor 2:14–6:10) treats the nature of Paul’s ministry and
his qualifications for it; this material bears some similarity to the defense
of his ministry in chaps. 10–13, but it may well come from a period close to
the crisis. This is followed by a supplementary block of material quite
different in character and tone (2 Cor 6:14–7:1). These materials may have been
brought together into their present position during final editing of the
letter; appeals to the Corinthians link them to one another (2 Cor 6:11–13) and
lead back to the interrupted narrative (2 Cor 7:2–4).
2:14–6:10 The question of Paul’s adequacy (2 Cor 2:16; cf. 2
Cor 3:5) and his credentials (2 Cor 3:1–2) has been raised. Paul responds by an
extended treatment of the nature of his ministry. It is a ministry of glory (2
Cor 3:7–4:6), of life (2 Cor 4:7–5:10), of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:11–6:10).
2:14–16a The initial statement plunges us abruptly into
another train of thought. Paul describes his personal existence and his
function as a preacher in two powerful images (2 Cor 2:14) that constitute a
prelude to the development to follow.
2:14a Leads us in triumph in Christ: this metaphor of a
festive parade in honor of a conquering military hero can suggest either a
positive sharing in Christ’s triumph or experience of defeat, being led in
captivity and submission (cf. 2 Cor 4:8–11; 1 Cor 4:9). Paul is probably aware
of the ambiguity, as he is in the case of the next metaphor.
2:14b–16a The odor of the knowledge of him: incense was
commonly used in triumphal processions. The metaphor suggests the gradual
diffusion of the knowledge of God through the apostolic preaching. The aroma of
Christ: the image shifts from the fragrance Paul diffuses to the aroma that he
is. Paul is probably thinking of the “sweet odor” of the sacrifices in the Old
Testament (e.g., Gn 8:21; Ex 29:18) and perhaps of the metaphor of wisdom as a
sweet odor (Sir 24:15). Death…life: the aroma of Christ that comes to them
through Paul is perceived differently by various classes of people. To some, his
preaching and his life (cf. 1 Cor 1:17–2:6) are perceived as death, and the
effect is death for them; others perceive him, despite appearances, as life,
and the effect is life for them. This fragrance thus produces a separation and
a judgment (cf. the function of the “light” in John’s gospel).
2:16b–17 Qualified: Paul may be echoing either the
self-satisfied claims of other preachers or their charges about Paul’s
deficiencies. No one is really qualified, but the apostle contrasts himself
with those who dilute or falsify the preaching for personal advantage and
insists on his totally good conscience: his ministry is from God, and he has
exercised it with fidelity and integrity (cf. 2 Cor 3:5–6).
BACK TO:
Copyright © 2020 by Ekklesia Katholes (Acts 9:31)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.
No comments:
Post a Comment