Single lesson
2 Corinthians 2: Reaffirm Your Love
2 Corinthians 2:1–11; 2 Corinthians 2:12–17
In this lesson, children will see how Paul connects loving correction, ready forgiveness and honest speaking about Christ. They will also notice that the second half follows Paul’s concern about Titus, so the whole passage holds together.
Before you teach
Paul says he chose not to come again in sorrow, but wrote with tears so they would know his love. He urges the church to forgive, comfort and confirm love. Then he tells of an open door in Troas, his unrest at not finding Titus, and his thanks to God in Christ.
Students will be able to explain that Paul calls the church to show love through forgiveness and comfort, and to recognise that even in distress he speaks about Christ sincerely as one sent by God.
Welcome: Why Paul wrote with tears
5 minBegin by asking what loving help can look like when someone has done wrong. Explain that Paul did not want another sorrowful visit. He wrote in affliction, anguish and tears, not to hurt them, but so they would know his abundant love. In this passage, loving correction is meant to help, not simply to wound.
2 Corinthians 2:1, 2 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 2:4
Read and explain: Forgive, comfort and confirm love
8 minRead verses 5 to 11 aloud. Explain that a person had caused sorrow, and that the punishment by many was sufficient. Paul then says the church should forgive and comfort that person so he is not swallowed up by excessive sorrow. He begs them to confirm their love, and links forgiveness with resisting Satan’s schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:5, 2 Corinthians 2:6, 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 2:11
Discuss: What does obedience look like here?
5 minTalk about verse 9, where Paul says he wrote to know the proof of their obedience. In these verses, obedience includes more than noticing wrong and more than punishment. It includes forgiving with Paul and acting for another person’s good. Help children see that obedience here is active, loving and careful.
2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 2:10
Make and respond: Distress and Christ’s aroma
8 minRead verses 12 to 17. Paul says a door was opened for the Good News in Troas, yet he had no relief because he did not find Titus, so he left for Macedonia. Then he thanks God, who leads in triumph in Christ. Paul says he is not peddling God’s word, but speaks sincerely in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 2:17
Closing: Love, distress and sincere ministry
4 minInvite each child to finish one sentence: ‘Because of this passage, I can...’ Guide them towards responses such as forgiving, comforting, showing love, or speaking truthfully about Christ. Remind them that Paul’s thanks about Christ’s work comes after he tells of his unrest about Titus and his move on from Troas to Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 2:17
Questions to explore
Why does Paul say he wrote with many tears?
Look for his reason in the verse: he says it was not to make them grieve, but so they would know how much he loved them.
2 Corinthians 2:4
After the punishment was enough, what did Paul tell the church to do next?
Find the three actions Paul urges in order: forgive, comfort and confirm love toward the person.
2 Corinthians 2:6, 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:8
What happens in verses 12 to 17 before Paul speaks about the aroma of Christ, and how does he describe his way of speaking?
Notice that Paul first says he had no relief because he did not find Titus and left for Macedonia, then he says he is not peddling God’s word but speaks sincerely, as of God, in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 2:17
Make, think or respond
Confirm Your Love Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- plain card or paper
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- optional stickers
Try it together
- Choose one key phrase from the passage, such as ‘confirm your love’ or ‘a sweet aroma of Christ to God’.
- Write the phrase neatly on the front of the card and decorate it with simple symbols.
- On the back, write one action from the passage, such as ‘forgive’, ‘comfort’ or ‘speak sincerely’.
- Share the card with the group and explain how the phrase matches the passage.
The card helps children remember that Paul joins loving forgiveness in 2 Corinthians 2:7 and 2 Corinthians 2:8 with sincere ministry about Christ in 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 2:15 and 2 Corinthians 2:17.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two short phrase choices to copy and let them answer discussion questions verbally with simple prompts.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain how Paul’s love in 2 Corinthians 2:4 connects with his command to forgive and comfort in 2 Corinthians 2:7 and 2 Corinthians 2:8, and how his distress in 2 Corinthians 2:13 is followed by thanksgiving in 2 Corinthians 2:14.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: ‘Lord, please help us show love in the right way, forgive and comfort others wisely, and speak about Christ sincerely.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Corinthians 2
1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
2 For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me?
3 And 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.
4 For 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.
5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.
6 This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;
7 so 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.
8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.
10 Now 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,
11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
12 Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,
13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who perish:
16 to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.