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2 Corinthians 2: Sorrow, Forgiveness, and Aroma

Paul explains his painful letter, urges the church to forgive the offender, and rejoices to be the aroma of Christ everywhere God leads.

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2 Corinthians 2 (WEB)

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

2 For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry 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 sorry, 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 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;

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 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.

Summary

Paul explains why he chose not to make another painful visit: he did not want to come again in sorrow, for if he grieved them, who would be left to gladden him? He wrote instead a tearful letter, not to wound them but to show the abundant love he has for them, hoping his joy would be shared by all. He turns to the one who had caused sorrow, urging that the punishment imposed by the majority is enough, and now they should forgive and comfort him so he is not swallowed up by excessive grief. Paul calls them to reaffirm their love for this person, and adds that he too forgives, doing so in the presence of Christ so that Satan gains no advantage over them, for they are not ignorant of his schemes. He then recounts his restless search for Titus: though a door for the gospel had opened in Troas, he found no peace of spirit until he could learn how the Corinthians had responded, and so he moved on into Macedonia. Yet he breaks into thanksgiving, for God always leads his servants in triumph in Christ and spreads through them the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere. To some this aroma is the smell of death, to others the fragrance of life, and Paul insists that, unlike the many who peddle God's word for profit, he speaks with sincerity, sent from God and standing in his sight.

Main Characters

  • Paul — The apostle who wrote a tearful letter out of love, calls for the offender's forgiveness, and gives thanks for being led in triumph as the aroma of Christ.
  • The offender — The one whose wrongdoing had caused sorrow, now punished enough, whom Paul urges the church to forgive, comfort, and restore in love.
  • Titus — Paul's brother and partner whose absence left Paul restless in Troas, longing for news of how the Corinthians had received the severe letter.
  • Satan — The adversary whose schemes Paul will not give room to, knowing that unforgiveness and despair are among his designs against the church.

Key Verse

2 Corinthians 2:14 (WEB)

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.

Lessons Learned

  • Loving correction sometimes wounds, but its aim is healing and restored joy, not harm.
  • Forgiveness and restoration guard the repentant from being swallowed by despair.
  • Refusing to forgive gives Satan an advantage we are not meant to grant him.
  • Wherever God leads us, he spreads through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.
  • Hard words can carry deep love. Paul wrote “out of much affliction and anguish of heart… with many tears” so they would know “the love that I have so abundantly for you” (2 Corinthians 2:4, WEB). Truth and tenderness belong together.
  • Restore the repentant lest they despair. Forgive and comfort the offender “lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow” (2 Corinthians 2:7, WEB). Discipline aims at restoration.
  • Unforgiveness opens a door to Satan. Paul forgives so “that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11, WEB). Grace closes a door the enemy would use.
  • We are the aroma of Christ. God “reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14, WEB). The Christian life carries the fragrance of Christ wherever it goes.
  1. Why did Paul decide to write a letter rather than make another painful visit (2:1-4)?
  2. What does Paul ask the church to do for the one who caused sorrow, and what reason does he give (2:7-8)?
  3. How does forgiveness in this passage relate to resisting the schemes of Satan (2:11)?
  4. What does the image of being “the sweet aroma of Christ” (2:15) say about the Christian's presence in the world?
  5. Is there someone you have disciplined or distanced who now needs your forgiveness and comfort? What step could you take?
  1. Paul did not want to come “again in sorrow” and grieve the very people who should be his joy (2:1-2). He wrote instead with tears, not to wound them but to reveal his abundant love (2:4). He chose the path most likely to lead to repentance and restored gladness rather than a confrontation that would only deepen the pain.
  2. Paul says the punishment by the majority is “sufficient,” and now they should “forgive him and comfort him” and “confirm your love toward him” (2:6-8). His reason is mercy: so the man is not “swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.” Discipline had done its work; now love must complete it.
  3. Paul forgives so that “no advantage may be gained over us by Satan” (2:11). Unforgiveness can crush a repentant person and divide a church, and these are among Satan's schemes. Grace and restoration close the door the enemy would otherwise use; refusing to forgive does his work for him.
  4. It means believers carry the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a fragrance that lingers (2:14-15). To some it smells of life, to others of death, but the aroma itself is unmistakable. Our lives, words, and love spread something of Christ in every place God leads us, whether or not it is welcomed.
  5. This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to consider whether anyone they have rightly corrected now needs comfort and reaffirmed love. As leader, hold together the seriousness of sin and the priority of restoration, and avoid pressing anyone to disclose private situations.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.