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Reaffirm Your Love

Paul explains why he wrote with tears instead of visiting in sorrow. In these verses, he moves from grief and discipline to forgiveness, comfort and a clear call for the church to reaffirm love.

2 Corinthians 2:1–11Read together with an adultLetter and teaching
Parchment, a reed pen and an ink pot on an ancient writing table

Understanding the passage

The setting of these words

This part of 2 Corinthians is written as letter and teaching. Paul speaks about his earlier writing, his anguish of heart, and sorrow connected with someone in the church. He says the punishment given by many has been enough, and he urges the believers to respond with forgiveness and comfort.

2 Corinthians 2:1–11

Main takeaway

This passage teaches that necessary grief and discipline should lead to forgiveness, comfort and confirmed love, so that sorrow does not overwhelm a person and Satan does not gain an advantage.

Follow the letter’s teaching

Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.

01Why Paul did not come in sorrowPaul says he decided not to come again in sorrow. He explains that if he made them grieve, the very people who should bring him joy would instead be the source of pain.

Explanation

Paul says he decided not to come again in sorrow. He explains that if he made them grieve, the very people who should bring him joy would instead be the source of pain. His earlier writing aimed to avoid a visit marked by shared sorrow instead of shared joy.

2 Corinthians 2:12 Corinthians 2:22 Corinthians 2:3
02Tears that came from lovePaul says he wrote out of much affliction, anguish of heart and many tears. He is careful to explain his purpose.

Explanation

Paul says he wrote out of much affliction, anguish of heart and many tears. He is careful to explain his purpose. He did not write simply to make them grieve. He wanted them to know the abundance of his love. In this passage, sorrow and love are closely connected.

2 Corinthians 2:4
03When punishment has been sufficientPaul turns to a person who caused sorrow. He says the sorrow affected the whole group, not only himself.

Explanation

Paul turns to a person who caused sorrow. He says the sorrow affected the whole group, not only himself. Then he states that the punishment inflicted by the many is sufficient. The passage does not describe the offence, but it clearly says the disciplinary action had reached its proper limit.

2 Corinthians 2:52 Corinthians 2:6
04Forgive, comfort and confirm loveBecause the punishment is sufficient, Paul urges the church to move in a new direction. They should forgive and comfort the person, so that excessive sorrow does not swallow him up.

Explanation

Because the punishment is sufficient, Paul urges the church to move in a new direction. They should forgive and comfort the person, so that excessive sorrow does not swallow him up. Paul begs them to confirm their love, and he joins them in forgiveness in the presence of Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:72 Corinthians 2:82 Corinthians 2:10
05Obedience that resists Satan’s schemesPaul says one purpose of his writing was to see the proof of their obedience in all things.

Explanation

Paul says one purpose of his writing was to see the proof of their obedience in all things. Their response to this situation matters spiritually. Shared forgiveness is not merely social peace. Paul says it helps prevent Satan from gaining an advantage, because believers are not ignorant of his schemes.

2 Corinthians 2:92 Corinthians 2:102 Corinthians 2:11

Questions to explore

Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.

01According to Paul, why did he write with tears instead of coming in sorrow?

Look for his stated purpose in writing and the kind of relationship he hoped to preserve between his joy and theirs.

2 Corinthians 2:32 Corinthians 2:4
02What change does Paul ask for after the punishment had been sufficient?

Trace the movement from discipline to the three actions he names for the person who had caused sorrow.

2 Corinthians 2:62 Corinthians 2:72 Corinthians 2:8
03How does Paul connect forgiveness with obedience and spiritual awareness?

Notice that he links their response to proof of obedience and to preventing Satan from gaining an advantage.

2 Corinthians 2:92 Corinthians 2:102 Corinthians 2:11

Read the Bible passage

World English Bible Classic

Scripture quotation · Public domain

2 Corinthians 2:1–11

1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

2For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me?

3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you.

4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

5But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.

6This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;

7so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

8Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.

9For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

10Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Source passages

Source: 2 Corinthians 2 ↗
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