4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart<\/em> ] The word here translated anguish denotes a drawing or holding together<\/em>, as we say, a spasm<\/em>. It is only found here and in Luk 21:25<\/span>. It was from no proud consciousness of superiority that St Paul wrote the rebukes of his former Epistle. He was no Pharisee who ‘thanked God that he was not as other men are.’ Neither did he take pleasure in grieving them, except so far as it tended to their profit. Therefore he wrote out of (i.e. they were the source from which his Epistle proceeded) much affliction and anguish of heart, not to distress them, but in order to shew his love, which took the shape of an anxious desire for their perfection. “It is the truest mark of affection,” says Estius, “not to cloke the sins of those who are entrusted to your care, to rebuke them openly and plainly, even at the risk of causing considerable distress.”<\/p>\n with many tears<\/em> ] “Which,” says Calvin, “in the case of a brave and high-spirited man, are a token of intense grief.”<\/p>\n not that you should be grieved<\/em> ] Cf. ch. 2Co 7:12<\/span>.<\/p>\n For out of much affliction – <\/B>Possibly Pauls enemies had charged him with being harsh and overbearing. They may have said that there was much needless severity in his letter. He here meets that, and says, that it was with much pain and many tears that he was constrained to write as he did. He was pained at their conduct, and at the necessity which existed for such an epistle. This is an eminently beautiful instance of Pauls kindness of heart, and his susceptibility to tender impressions. The evil conduct of others gives pain to a good man; and the necessity of administering reproof and discipline is often as painful to him who does it, as it is to those who are the subjects of it.<\/P> And anguish of heart – <\/B>The word rendered anguish (<\/SPAN><\/span> sunoche) means, properly, a holding together or shutting up; and then, pressure, distress, anguish – an affliction of the heart by which one feels tightened or constrained; such a pressure as great grief causes at the heart.<\/P> I wrote unto you with many tears – <\/B>With much weeping and grief that I was constrained to write such a letter. This was an instance of Pauls great tenderness of heart – a trait of character which, he uniformly evinced. With all his strength of mind, and all His courage and readiness to face danger, Paul was not ashamed to weep; and especially if he had any occasion of censuring his Christian brethren, or administering discipline; compare Phi 3:18<\/span>; Act 20:31<\/span>. This is also a specimen of the manner in which Paul met the faults of his Christian brethren. It was not with bitter denunciation. It was not with sarcasm and ridicule. It was not by emblazoning those faults abroad to others. It was not with the spirit of rejoicing that they had committed errors, and had been guilty of sin. It was not as if he was glad of the opportunity of administering rebuke, and took pleasure in denunciation and in the language of reproof. All this is often done by others; but Paul pursued a different course. He sent an affectionate letter to the offenders themselves; and he did it with many tears. it was done weeping. Admonition would always be done right if it was done with tears. Discipline would always be right, and would be effectual, if it were administered with tears. Any man will receive an admonition kindly, if he who administers it does it weeping; and the heart of an offender will be melted, if he who attempts to reprove him comes to him with tears. How happy would it be if all who attempt to reprove should do it with Pauls spirit. How happy, if all discipline should be administered in the church in his manner. But, we may add, how seldom is this done! How few are there who feel themselves called on to reprove an offending brother, or to charge a brother with heresy or crime, that do it with tears!<\/P> Not that ye should be grieved – <\/B>It was not my object to give you pain.<\/P> But that ye might know the love … – <\/B>This was one of the best evidences of his great love to them which he could possibly give. It is proof of genuine friendship for another, when we faithfully and affectionately admonish him of the error of his course; it is the highest proof of affection when we do it with tears. It is cruelty to suffer a brother to remain in sin unadmonished; it is cruel to admonish him of it in a harsh, severe, and authoritative tone; but it is proof of tender attachment when we go to him with tears, and entreat him to repent and reform. No one gives higher proof of attachment to another than he who affectionately admonishes him of his sin and danger.<\/P><\/p>\n Verse 4<\/span>. For out of much affliction<\/B><\/I>, c.] It is very likely that the apostle’s enemies had represented him as a harsh,<\/I> austere, authoritative<\/I> man who was better pleased with inflicting wounds than in healing them. But he vindicates himself from this charge by solemnly asserting that this was the most painful part of his office; and that the writing of his first epistle to them cost him much affliction and anguish of heart, and many tears.<\/P><\/p>\n Every man that deriveth from God, is in this made partaker of the Divine nature, that like as God doth not grieve willingly, nor willingly afflict the children of men, so neither will he; but if, by reason of his office or trust reposed in him, he be under an obligation sometimes to speak smartly, or to chastise and punish others for their errors, yet he will so do it as one that hath no pleasure and delight in it. Thus the good judge weepeth, or at least showeth sorrow and compassion, when he giveth sentence against malefactors. So, this great apostle, to whom God had committed a care over all the Christian churches, saw a necessity of reproving this church that was at Corinth, for enduring the incestuous person in their communion, and not casting him out; for their errors about the resurrection, for their divisions, schisms, and contentions, &c.: but he professeth that he did this <\/P> with many tears; <\/B>and those not shed in hypocrisy, but forced from the anguish and affliction of his heart; that he had nothing less in his design, than to put them to any excessive grief or trouble, but what he wrote was out of a principle of love and good will, both to the welfare of their whole church, and to the good of the particular souls of those that were the members of that church. Ministers or others do no good by their censures or reproofs, if they do not so dispense them, as people may see that what they do, or say, is out of their abundant love to their souls. <\/P> <\/p>\n 4.<\/B> So far from my change ofpurpose being due to “lightness” (2Co1:17<\/span>), I wrote my letter to you (2Co2:3<\/span>) “out of much affliction (Greek,<\/I> ‘trouble’) andanguish of heart, and with many tears.” <\/P> not that ye should begrieved<\/B>Translate, “be made sorry,” to accord withthe translation, 2Co 2:2<\/span>. Myultimate and main object was, “not that ye might be made sorry,”but that through sorrow you might be led to repentance, and so tojoy, redounding both to you and me (2Co 2:2<\/span>;2Co 2:3<\/span>). I made you sorry beforegoing to you, that when I went it might not be necessary. He iseasily made sorry, who is admonished by a friend himself weeping[BENGEL]. <\/P> that ye might know thelove<\/B>of which it is a proof to rebuke sins openly and in season[ESTIUS], (Psa 141:5<\/span>;Pro 27:6<\/span>). “Love” isthe source from which sincere reproof springs; that the Corinthiansmight ultimately recognize this as his motive, was the apostle’s aim.<\/P> which I have more abundantlyunto you<\/B>who have been particularly committed to me by God(Act 18:10<\/span>; 1Co 4:15<\/span>;1Co 9:2<\/span>).<\/P><\/p>\n For out of much affliction and anguish of heart<\/strong>,…. Being greatly pressed in his spirit, and grieved at his heart, for the abominable iniquities among them, which they seemed to take no notice of, and to be unconcerned about, yea, rather to be puffed up with:<\/p>\n I wrote to you with many tears<\/strong>; as signs and expressions of, and by which were vented, the inward anguish and distress of his soul; and the letter he sent to them in some measure bore witness to it: which was written,<\/p>\n not that you should be grieved<\/strong>; that is, not merely for the sake of grieving of them, in which he took no pleasure; not but that the apostle designed and desired to affect their minds with a holy grief and godly sorrow for sin, and hereby their amendment; but his chief view was, next to their spiritual good, and God’s glory, to express the greatness of his love to them: as he says,<\/p>\n that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you<\/strong>; as his love was very vehement towards them, he was desirous they should know it, and how exceeding abundant it was; and that it was even greater towards them, than to others; and he thought he could not give a greater proof and evidence of it, than by reproving them faithfully, and that sharply too, as the necessity of the case required.<\/p>\n Anguish <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). Ablative case after <\/SPAN><\/span> (out of). Old word from <\/SPAN><\/span>, to hold together. So contraction of heart (Cicero, contractio animi<\/I>), a spiritual angina pectoris<\/I>. In N.T. only here and Lu 21:25<\/span>.<\/P> With many tears <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). He dictated that letter “through tears” (accompanied by tears). Paul was a man of heart. He writes to the Philippians with weeping (<\/SPAN><\/span>) over the enemies of the Cross of Christ (Php 3:18<\/span>). He twice mentions his tears in his speech at Miletus (Ac 20:19-31<\/span>).<\/P> But that ye might know the love <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). Proleptic position of <\/SPAN><\/span> and ingressive second aorist active subjunctive <\/SPAN><\/span>, come to know. <\/P> <\/p>\n Anguish [] <\/SPAN><\/span>. Only here and Luk 21:25<\/span>. Lit., a holding together, constraining, or compressing. See on taken, Luk 4:38<\/span>. So anguish, from the Latin, angere to choke : anger, which, in earlier English, means affiction, mental torture : anxious : the Latin anguis a snake, marking the serpent by his throttling. In Sanscrit, anhas, from the same root, was the name for sin, the throttler. It reappears obscurely in our medical term quinsy, which was originally quinancy, Greek kunagkh dog – throttling, med., cynanche.<\/P> <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1) “For out of much affliction.”<\/strong> (ek gar polles thlipseos) “For out of much trouble, affliction, or tribulation;” 2Co 11:12<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2) “And anxiety of heart”<\/strong> (Kai sunoches kardias) and anxious care of heart,” shaken emotions; Rev 2:1-7<\/span>; Rev 3:1-3<\/span>; Rev 3:19<\/span>. Love always calls to repentance for wrong.<\/p>\n 3) “I wrote unto you with many tears,”<\/strong> (egrapsa humin dia pollon dakruon) “I wrote to you through many tears,” often weeping, while writing that former letter. Reproof and correction of children for wrong, in the spirit of love, is helpful, though it be grievous for a moment, Heb 12:11<\/span>.<\/p>\n 4) “Not that ye should be grieved”<\/strong> (ouch hina eupethete) “not in order that you all should be grieved,” (as I was), 2Co 10:8<\/span>. He both visited and wrote chiding remarks for their error, that they might be edified or built up in the Lord.<\/p>\n 5) “But that ye might know the love,”<\/strong> (alla ten agapen hina gnote) “But in order that you all might know the love,” the deep affections he had for their spiritual growth and maturity.<\/p>\n 6) “Which I have more abundantly unto you,<\/strong> (hen echo perissoteros; eis humas) “which I hold more abundantly to you all-” See Act 20:3-4<\/span> for allusions to this second (hastily made) visit to the brethren. Fatherly chastisements are proofs of fatherly love, care, and affections.<\/p>\n 4. For out of much affliction Here he brings forward another reason with the view of softening the harshness which he had employed. For those who smilingly take delight in seeing others weep, inasmuch as they discover thereby their cruelty, cannot and ought not to be borne with. Paul, however, declares that his feeling was very different. “Intensity of grief,” says he, “has extorted from me every thing that I have written.” Who would not excuse, and take in good part what springs from such a temper of mind, more especially as it was not on his own account or through his own fault, that he suffered grief, and farther, he does not give vent to his grief, with the view of lightning himself by burdening them, but rather, for the purpose of shewing his affection for them? On these accounts, it did not become the Corinthians to be offended at this somewhat severe reproof. <\/p>\n He adds, tears — which, in a man that is brave and magnanimous are a token of intense grief. Hence we see, from what emotions of mind pious and holy admonitions and reproofs must of necessity proceed. For there are many noisy reprovers, who, by declaiming, or rather, fulminating against vices, display a surprising ardour of zeal, while in the mean time they are at ease in their mind, (316) so that it might seem as if they exercised their throat and sides (317) by way of sport. It is, however, the part of a pious pastor, to weep within himself, before he calls upon others to weep: (318) to feel tortured in silent musings, before he shows any token of displeasure; and to keep within his own breast more grief, than he causes to others. We must, also, take notice of Paul’s tears, which, by their abundance, shew tenderness of heart, but it is of a more heroical character than was the iron-hearted hardness of the Stoics. (319) For the more tender the affections of love are, they are so much the more praiseworthy. <\/p>\n The adverb more abundantly may be explained in a comparative sense; and, in that case, it would be a tacit complaint — that the Corinthians do not make an equal return in respect of affection, inasmuch as they love but coldly one by whom they are ardently loved. I take it, however, in a more simple way, as meaning that Paul commends his affection towards them, in order that this assurance may soften down every thing of harshness that might be in his words. <\/p>\n (316) “ Ils ne s’en soucient point, et n’en sont nullement touchez;” — “They feel no concern as to it, and are in no degree affected by it.” <\/p>\n (317) “ En criant;” — “In crying.” <\/p>\n (318) There can be little doubt that our author had here in his eye the celebrated sentiment of Horace, in his “ Ars Poetica,” 50:102 — “ Si vis me flere, dolendum primum ipsi tibi;” — “If you would have me weep, weep first yourself.” — Ed. <\/p>\n (319) “ Qui vouloyent apparoistre comme insensibles;” — “Who wished to seem as if they were devoid of feeling.” <\/p>\n (4) Out of much affliction and anguish.<\/strong>Men might think that it had cost him little to write sharp words like those which he has in his mind. He remembers well what he felt as he dictated themthe intensity of his feelings, pain that such words should be needed, anxiety as to their issue, the very tears which then, as at other times (Act. 20:19<\/span>; Act. 20:31<\/span>; 2Ti. 1:4<\/span>), were the outflow of strong emotion. Those who were indignant at his stern words should remember, or at least learn to believe this, and so to see in them the strongest proof of his abounding love for them. The heart of St. Paul was in this matter as the heart of Him who said, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten (Rev. 3:19<\/span>). The motive in such a case is not to give pain, but to lead those whom we reprove to feel how much we love them. On the word for anguish, see Note on Luk. 21:25<\/span>. Looking to the fact that it is used only by St. Luke and St. Paul in the New Testament, we may, perhaps, see in it another example of medical terminology. The anguish was like that of a tight pressure or constriction of the heart.<\/p>\n 4<\/strong>. <\/strong> Anguish of heart<\/strong> Arising from the scandal of the Corinthian disorders and the necessity of stern discipline. <\/p>\n Many tears<\/strong> Even of tenderness for those he rebuked. <\/p>\n That ye should be grieved<\/strong> Was the unavoidable result, but not <\/strong> the object desired. But that ye might <\/strong> have the moral elevation and high Christian magnanimity to know <\/strong> that even my severity was but a form of love<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This whole section is expressed in Paul’s most terse and sententious style, indicating a penetrative quickness in his readers at understanding his closely-wrapped meaning. Not less remarkable is the deep tenderness and delicacy of feeling, and the high moral platform on which Paul assumes that both he and his Corinthian readers stand. The same tenderness suffuses his words in regard to the incestuous offender, whose image now individualizes itself to his view.<\/p>\n ‘For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have more abundantly to you.’<\/p>\n For the truth was that he loved them dearly, so much so that the severe letter had cause him much anguish of heart. Composing it had not been easy. It had been a great burden to him. And his prime intention had not been to make them sorry, although that had been necessary, but in order to show that he really cared about them, and that what he was requiring as an Apostle was really for their benefit, and was because of his concern and love for them.<\/p>\n This statement would seem to confirm that the letter referred to is not 1 Corinthians, but an unknown letter, because while he had been firm in 1 Corinthians, there is nothing about it that suggests tears of anguish.<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>And anguish of heart<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> Over-bearing anguish <\/em>seems the import of the word , which nearly resembles the verb , ch. 2Co 5:14<\/span>. See the place. <\/p>\n 2Co 2:4<\/span> . Reason assigned for the . . For if I in writing the Epistle had not had that confidence, the Epistle would not have caused me so much grief and so many tears<\/em> . In the very contrast of this confidence with the necessity of having to write in such a manner lay the great pai.<\/p>\n and vividly represent the origin of the letter as a going forth and a pressing through: out of much affliction and anxiety of heart I wrote to you through many tears<\/em> . And this Paul might say, even if he had not himself held the pe.<\/p>\n and ( anxiety<\/em> , Luk 21:25<\/span> : not so among the Greeks, but see Schleusner, Thes<\/em> . V. p. 212) do not refer to outward, but to inward<\/em> suffering, as both are defined by . Rckert concludes from the calm tone of the first Epistle that Paul “had from prudent consideration known how to impose such restraint on his state of feeling, that the Epistle might not reflect any faithful picture of it.” But this would have been cunning dissimulation, not in keeping with the apostle’s character. No; it was just his specially tender care for the Corinthians which on the one hand increased his pain that he needed to write such rebukes, and on the other hand did not allow his vehement emotion to emerge in that Epistle; hence we must not say that the quiet character of our first Epistle is not psychologically in keeping with the utterance of this passage. In particular, 5 might have caused the apostle anxiety and tears enough, without our needing to suppose an intermediate letter (see on 2Co 2:3<\/span> ).<\/p>\n ] Comp. Act 20:19<\/span> ; Act 20:31<\/span> . Calvin aptly says: “mollitiem testantur, sed magis heroicam, quam fuerit illa ferrea Stoicorum durities.”<\/p>\n , . . .] This added explanation regarding the purpose<\/em> of his letter, to him so painful, is intended also to corroborate the . . ., of which he has given assuranc.<\/p>\n ] placed first for emphasi.<\/p>\n .] ( ) , Theophylact, who, following Chrysostom, also directs attention to the winning tenderness of the words ( ). Comp. 2Co 1:12<\/span> . The love of the apostle for his churches has along with its universality its various degrees, just as the love of a father for his children. The Philippians also were specially dear to him.<\/p>\n 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Ver. 4. With many tears<\/strong> ] Non tam atramento, quam lachrymis chartas illevit, <\/em> saith Lorinus. in <\/em> Act 22:19 <\/em> St Paul’s Epistles were written rather with tears than with ink. <\/p>\n 4<\/strong> .] Explanation<\/em> ( ) that he did not write in levity of purpose<\/em> , but under great trouble of mind<\/em> , not to grieve them, but to testify his love. <\/strong> , of the inducement<\/em> <\/strong> , of the condition<\/em> : he wrote, out of much tribulation<\/strong> (inward, of spirit, not outward) and anguish<\/strong> ( , ‘ angusti<\/em> ’) of heart, with<\/strong> (q. ‘through,’ the state being the vehicle of the action, see reff.) many tears.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong> . <\/strong> <\/strong> , before the conjunction <\/strong> , for special emphasis: see reff.<\/p>\n <\/strong> ‘ than to other churches<\/em> (?)’ so Chrys. (referring to 1Co 4:15<\/span> ; 1Co 9:2 ), Theophyl.: Estius thinks, the comparative is not to be pressed, but understood as [some take the adjective] in 2Co 2:7<\/span> , ‘ exceedingly<\/em> .’<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4<\/span> . . . .: for out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears<\/em> . This describes the state of mind in which he wrote 1 Cor.<\/em> , if the view of the situation which has been adopted in this commentary be correct (see Introd.<\/em> , p. 13). : we have used, somewhat similarly, with the genitive of the attendant circumstances, in Rom 2:27<\/span> ; Rom 4:11<\/span> ; Rom 8:25<\/span> ; Rom 14:20<\/span> , chap. 2Co 5:7<\/span> , Heb 12:1<\/span> , Rev 21:24<\/span> , etc. . . .: not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye should know the love which I have so abundantly to you<\/em> . , as a grace especially to be exhibited in Christian intercourse, is repeatedly dwelt on by St. Paul. The word has been described as “ecclesiastical” and as having been first introduced to literature in the LXX. But it has been recently found in papyri of the Ptolemaic period (Deissmann, Bibel-studien<\/em> , p. 81), and it thus appears that the LXX only took over a word already current in the speech of Greek Egypt. Here the position of before<\/em> gives it special emphasis; cf.<\/em> , for a like order, Act 19:4<\/span> , Rom 11:31<\/span> . may<\/em> mean “more abundantly,” sc.<\/em> , than to other Churches; but it is quite legitimate to take it as used without any special comparative force ( cf.<\/em> 2Co 10:8<\/span> ).<\/p>\n out of. Greek. ek. App-104. <\/p>\n affliction. Greek. thlipeis, as in 2Co 1:4. <\/p>\n anguish = straitening, or distress. Greek. sunoche. Only here and Luk 21:25. Compare the verb sunecho, 2Co 5:14. Luk 12:50, Act 18:5. Php 1:1, Php 1:23. <\/p>\n unto = to. <\/p>\n with = by, or through. Greek. <\/p>\n dia. App-104. 2Co 2:1. <\/p>\n not. Greek. ou. App-105. <\/p>\n that = in order that. Greek. hina. <\/p>\n know. Greek. ginosko. App-132. <\/p>\n love. Greek. agape. App-135. <\/p>\n more abundantly. See 2Co 1:12. <\/p>\n unto. Greek. eie. App-104. <\/p>\n 4.] Explanation () that he did not write in levity of purpose, but under great trouble of mind,-not to grieve them, but to testify his love. , of the inducement-, of the condition: he wrote, out of much tribulation (inward, of spirit, not outward) and anguish (, angusti) of heart, with (q. through,-the state being the vehicle of the action, see reff.) many tears.<\/p>\n . , before the conjunction , for special emphasis: see reff.<\/p>\n -than to other churches (?)-so Chrys. (referring to 1Co 4:15; 1Co 9:2), Theophyl.: Estius thinks, the comparative is not to be pressed, but understood as [some take the adjective] in 2Co 2:7,-exceedingly.<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4. , for out of) I wished to stir you up before I went to you, that afterwards it might not be necessary. Anguish of heart produced tears, much anguish produced many tears. The Corinthians might have seen the marks of tears on his letter, if he himself wrote it-a proof of anguish.- ), not so much that, etc. The fruit of sorrow is not sorrow, but the fruit of love is love.-, you should be grieved) He is easily made sorry, who is admonished by a friend himself weeping.- , love) The source of sincere reproof and of joy derived from it.-, you might know) according to my faithful admonition.- , more abundantly to you) who have been particularly commended to me by God, Act 18:10.<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4 <\/p>\n For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears;-He had felt deep affliction and anguish of heart to have to write the words of condemnation he had felt compelled to write to them. He wrote them in tears himself, not to grieve them, but out of his deep and abundant love for them.<\/p>\n not that ye should be made sorry,-His love for them led him to seek to deliver them from their errors and sins, lest they should fall under the condemnation of God. [His ultimate and main object was, not that they should be made sorry, but that through sorrow they might be led to repentance, and so to joy.] but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.-True love for any person makes one seek to deliver the loved ones from wrong. Sometimes people uphold their husbands, wives, children, and friends in a wrong course, and say they do it from love. This is not true and helpful love. Love says get them pure and right before God, and insists on the discipline needed to purify them. Not to do this is to encourage them in their own ruin. A selfish determination to uphold ones family or friends in a course of wrong is not love. It is really hatred, in a Bible sense of the word. <\/p>\n out: Lev 19:17, Lev 19:18, Psa 119:136, Pro 27:5, Pro 27:6, Jer 13:15-17, Luk 19:41-44, Rom 9:2, Rom 9:3, Phi 3:18 <\/p>\n not: 2Co 7:8, 2Co 7:9, 2Co 7:12, 2Co 12:15, that you might, 2Co 11:2 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Job 4:2 – wilt thou Job 7:11 – the anguish Pro 12:25 – but Mar 9:24 – with Joh 21:17 – grieved Act 20:19 – many 1Co 9:23 – for 2Co 2:1 – that 2Co 6:6 – love 2Co 6:10 – sorrowful 2Co 6:11 – our heart 2Co 7:3 – to condemn 2Co 7:7 – fervent 2Co 11:29 – is weak<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4. Like a firm but kindhearted parent, Paul wrote his rebuke of the brethren in Corinth, although it pained him in his heart to do so; he knew they might be grieved also. But the purpose of the epistle was not merely for their grief, but to show them his great concern and love with reference to their spiritual welfare.<\/p>\n Here our compassionate apostle tells them, That what he had wrote in his former epistle with some severity and sharpness, concerning the incestuous person, was so far from being written with any intention to grieve them, that it was a real affliction to him, a very heavy pressure upon his heart, which fetched abundance of tears from his eyes, and consequently was an effect of the greatest love imaginable. <\/p>\n Hence note, That when the ministers of Christ do execute church-censures, if they do not dispense them with tenderness and compassion, so as to let the offenders see that what is done is out of abundant love unto them, they will never be the better for them, nor be bettered or reclaimed by them. Doth a civil judge weep when he passes sentence upon a malefactor? much more should an ecclesiastical judge mourn, when he pronounceth the censures of the church upon notorious offenders. Behold the apostle here declaring with what anguish of spirit and grief of heart he wrote to have the sentence of excommunication executed and inflicted on the incestuous Corinthian; Out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears.<\/p>\n 2Co 2:4-5. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart The word , here rendered anguish, denotes the pain which a person feels, who is pressed on every side, without any possibility of disengaging himself, Luk 21:25. I wrote unto you with many tears So it seems he frequently did: see Php 3:18. Not so much that ye should be grieved I did not design, in writing, to cause you to grieve more than was necessary in order to your repentance and reformation; but that ye might know By one of the most genuine tokens which it was possible for me to give, namely, by my faithful admonitions and reproofs, my abundant love toward you. But if any Or if a certain person, have caused grief To me and others; he hath not grieved me but in part Who still rejoice over the greater part of you. That I may not overcharge you all That I may not lay a load of accusation on you all indiscriminately, as having encouraged him in his crime, or having taken part with such an offender in afflicting me. In this and the following verses, the apostle gave a remarkable proof of that love which, in 2Co 2:4, he had expressed toward the Corinthians. 1st, Making a distinction between the guilty and the innocent; 2d, Forgiving the incestuous person, who, it appears, had repented of his crimes; 2Co 2:6; and, 3d, Ordering the church likewise to forgive him, and confirm their love to him, that he might not be swallowed up by excessive grief.<\/p>\n For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. [I wrote this very thing to you (viz.: how my coming endangered your joy, and how you must repent before I came (1Co 4:21); and how I would delay my coming, and come by the long and not the short route (1Co 16:5-8), lest when I came I should have sorrow from those to whom I looked for joy. And I do look for joy from you, for I have this confidence in you all, that, though many of you oppose me, yet there is none of you that does not desire my personal happiness. Moreover, my feelings at the time of writing are a witness unto God of the spirit in which I wrote, for I wrote out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, which shows that I took no pleasure in thus administering correction. I did not correct you to cause you grief, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you, and which can not keep quiet when it sees you injuring yourself (Psa 141:5; Pro 27:6). By referring to 1Co 4:21 and 1Co 5:1; it will be found that the threat of correction at his coming, and the case of the incestuous person, were twin thoughts in the apostle’s mind. The punishment of this offender was one of the principal items that Paul wished them to attend to before he came; in fact, the whole subject of visits, delays, corrections, etc., centered in this offender, and very naturally, therefore, while here explaining the causes for his delay, the case of this incestuous person comes to mind, and the apostle uses him to flood the entire situation with light.] <\/p>\n Verse 4 <\/p>\n I wrote unto you; referring to his former Epistle.<\/p>\n Paul’s affliction was probably the one referred to above (2Co 1:8-11). His anguish of heart doubtless arose both from his affliction and the condition of the Corinthian church. This verse is one of several in this epistle that gives us a window into the heart of the great apostle. Second Corinthians is one of the most personal of Paul’s epistles.<\/p>\n "The chief element of value in this ep. [epistle] is the revelation it gives of the apostle himself." [Note: Shaw, 2:720.] <\/span><\/p>\n Clearly Paul claimed that love for the Corinthians moved him to write the severe letter. He wanted to make them repentant and consequently joyful, not oppressed and sorrowful. He wept over them. Doubtless he wept again when he learned that his readers had misunderstood his best intentions.<\/p>\n "This passage, as Denney says, ’reveals, more clearly perhaps than any passage in the New Testament, the essential qualification of the Christian minister-a heart pledged to his brethren in the love of Christ. . . . ’Depend upon it,’ he counsels, ’we shall not make others weep for that for which we have not wept; we shall not make that touch the hearts of others which has not first touched our own.’" [Note: Hughes, p. 54.] <\/span><\/p>\n "When the offender is made to feel that, while his sin is punished, he himself is loved; and that the end aimed at is not his suffering but his good, he is the more likely to be brought to repentance. Every pastor must see in the apostle’s love for the Corinthians, and in the extreme sorrow with which he exercised discipline, in the case of offenders, an instructive example for his imitation." [Note: Hodge, p. 33.] <\/span><\/p>\n "In a manner that calls to mind Jesus’ forgiveness of those who caused him pain at the time of the crucifixion (Luk 23:34), Paul responded with a deep expression of overflowing love for those who had failed him." [Note: Barnett, p. 122.] <\/span><\/p>\n Paul had a special affection for the Corinthian believers.<\/p>\n "His love for them was more abundant, or greater, than that which he had for any other church. This view is borne out by numerous other passages in these two epistles, which go to show that Paul’s love for the Corinthian church was, for some reason, peculiarly strong." [Note: Hodge, p. 34.] <\/span><\/p>\n Paul’s example helps Christian leaders learn how to rebuke when we must. He used severity and rebukes very reluctantly. When he did rebuke, he did it without domineering. He did it with love in his heart and desire to see the best in those whom he rebuked. Nonetheless he did it when it was necessary. [Note: Cf. Barclay, pp. 199-200.] <\/span><\/p>\n It is often difficult to give up our plans, especially if much prayer and deliberation have gone into the planning. What makes this even harder is the possibility of our being misunderstood by others when we make changes. Notwithstanding, God often leads us just one step at a time. We must be willing to alter our plans if it is in the best interests of others and the gospel to do so.<\/p>\n "If you live to please people, misunderstandings will depress you; but if you live to please God, you can face misunderstandings with faith and courage." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:634.] <\/span><\/p>\n For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart ] The word here translated anguish denotes a drawing … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 2:4”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28776\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"