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2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 2

By Pastor Doug
Paul explains why he didn't come to them and wrote the severe letter instead. The Triumph of Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:1-2

The chapter break interrupts Paul's argument.  Paul continued to explain why he didn't come them and instead sent Titus with a letter.  He didn't want to come to them when everyone was already upset.  There needed to be repentance, not emotional reunions or feelings.  He knew there would be time for reconciliation later. 

There was nothing to gain by going and having a painful visit.  There was no benefit in the constant conflict and in fact it could have permanently damaged their relationship.  Stoking fires of contention just kept everyone upset and defensive.  In staying away, the anger subsided and repentance could take place.  That's all Paul wanted.

 

2 Corinthians 2:3-4
The NIV translated verse 3:

I would not make another painful visit to you.

However, verse 23 states that he didn't come because he wanted spare them a painful visit.  There is no record of a painful visit and not painful letter has ever been discovered.  We can imagine why there weren't many copies of this made.  It was probably something Corinth didn't want widely known.  It can become confusing studying this because some state this visit was though it were a fact.  It could easily mean that Paul chose not to make another visit that would be painful.  We just don't know for sure. 

If nothing had changed, a visit would likely result in damaging their relationship.  There would be accusations, bickering and nothing productive would take place.  Paul knew when he went back to Corinth it needed to be a time of joy, a time of seeing old friends, visiting the thriving church that he helped plant.  He saw it as a time that should be a great joy.  It would be to him and he hoped it might be that for them.  

Instead of going back Paul wrote a letter to get all the difficult stuff on the table.  He dealt with all those hard issues; pouring his heart out in this letter he sent them.  He said he wrote this letter with much affliction and anguish of heart.  This word for affliction is thlepsis and is the same word translated 'tribulation' in verse chapter 1 verse four.  It's the crushing burden, oppression and distress.  The anguish of heart means a narrowing, choking or throttling.  The pain he suffered had a choke hold on his heart.  He couldn't just leave them to the fate of those who were leading them astray.  These people who called Paul's apostleship into question were worming their way into a leadership role in the church.  These men were dangerous to the saints.

They were so caught up in the particulars of the disagreement they could not see Paul's only motivation was for their best.  It was his abundant love that drove him to seek correction.  The feeling of betrayal had to be huge; and that feeling could so quickly turn to into a bitterness that crushed relationships.  The distrust of those in the church must have been palpable.  Where were those strong Christian brothers who knew Paul's heart?  Where were those that Paul had taught, the ones Paul saw saved when he first came there?  Had they all forgotten him?

Paul was heartbroken.  In the midst of the affliction and with a broken heart, Paul wrote them this letter.  It was to his friends, to his brothers and sisters in the faith.  He wrote it with many tears.  But the tears weren't to make them feel bad.  The tears should inform them of the love he had for each of them.

 

2 Corinthians 2:5-7

Paul was not grieved; however, someone was grieving folks in the church.  In fact, Paul considers this person to have grieved everyone.  In pastoral wisdom, Paul stated it in general terms, not identifying the person and making things worse.  Paul could have named names and named the sin.  This is probably someone who was sinning or causing division and subsequently put out of the church.  This may be the 'evil person' referred to in 1 Corinthians 5:13 when Paul wrote regarding a man among them practicing immorality.  This man was committing incest with his father's wife.  He said:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

(NKJV (1 Co 5:4–5). (1982). Thomas Nelson.)

This may or may not be the same person, but the situation appears to be similar.  The punishment inflicted was done so by the church body, as it should be.  The church had practiced church discipline; putting this man out of the church for failure to repent and continuing to sin and offend.  The punishment was deemed sufficient according to Paul.  The punishment was towards an individual served two purposes (at least):

  1. It stopped the person from causing further damage to the church.  This could also serve to protect others in the body, depending on the nature of the sin.
  2. It showed this person the seriousness of their offense; the goal being to drive them to repentance and then restoration.

Since the punishment was sufficient, it served its purpose and they should have been ready to forgive and comfort him.  The hazard of not doing so was to expose him to too much sorrow; too much grief so as to overwhelm him.  He might have believed he was beyond restoration.  Why would they not forgive and affirm him upon repentance?  Greek and Roman law carried out a sentence according to law.  The Jews believed in restoration however there were groups that required a minimum required time prior to restoration.

Paul urged them to reaffirm their love for him.  The word translated 'urged' is parakaleo, meaning to console and encourage someone who is suffering.  It's used 10 times in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.  The word translated 'reaffirm' was most often used in legal settings to confirm a verdict.  In this sense, they are confirming their love (agape) for him.

Apparently, Paul wrote about this situation in a previous letter.  He told them they needed to deal with this person.  This tested their obedience to Paul's authority.  Paul makes it clear that he would not be offended if, or when, they forgave this man.  The desired end was repentance and restoration not punishment and retribution.  Paul saw an attitude of unforgiveness or bearing a grudge as falling into Satan's trap.  He would take a bad situation and make it worse.  While most Christians aren't ignorant of his devices, we don't give it enough consideration or at least consider it soon enough.  This is our propensity to freely give discipline and withhold our love.  The church is the body of Christ.  When part of that body is not present among us, it is painful.  It's like a piece of us missing.  It's like functioning at something less than full capacity.  Paul urged them to welcome this guy back in. 

Note: 

Church discipline doesn't seem to happen all that much in church today.  Too many churches seem to be worried about their image or the bad press among the people.  This seems to align more with Satan's intentions than the Bible.  We need to practice this discipline when the time comes.  The hard part about discipline today is if you put someone out then they can just go down the street to another church.  The rule ought to be no church should receive someone who is under discipline from another church.  That person should go back and repent of their sin at the other church.  Then they can go anywhere they like.

 

2 Corinthians 2:12-13
This is Paul's final comment about writing the letter and not coming to them.  He went to Troas to preach the gospel after the riot in Ephesus.  The Lord opened a door for him there; in essence getting Paul back in the game, back to the business of ministry.  He was struggling to find any peace or contentment.  We can imagine our own impatience in such a situation and we have almost instant means of communications and updates in a situation.  But Paul had to go on; what Christ was doing was bigger than just Corinth; a door had been opened.  While he needed to know how Titus and the letter were received, he could not rush the process nor could he keep from his calling.  Paul headed toward Macedonia with a heart of ministry and hope of finding Titus.

 

2 Corinthians 2:14

As Paul examined what had happened to him and the circumstances around his life at that time, he suddenly realized how all this worked for God's purpose and glory.  He's drawn to spontaneous worship; suddenly giving thanks to God.  No matter where Paul ended up, be it Corinth, Ephesus, Macedonia, Troas or some other yet unknown place, he knew God always led him and continued to do so.  Life was full of detours and disappointments and most of the time we can't explain them because they make no sense to us.  We can still be sure that God is faithful and we can hold fast to the assurance that he is in charge.

There was an open door before Paul but his heart and mind were in Corinth and he was drawn there.  Yet, there was a greater work going on than just Corinth.  Paul was in Troas, there was ministry before him.  He was apparently called to Macedonia where ministry awaited.  God's work if far greater than we can imagine or foresee.  Paul responded with praise to God knowing He would lead in Triumph.  This 'triumph' Paul referred would have been understood by nearly everyone at the time.  It was like a ticker tape parade for a conquering general.  In those days when a general won a great war by killing at least five thousand enemy soldiers or conquered a land thereby bringing new territory to the emperor, that general was celebrated.  When he came into the city a great parade took place.  This was called the Roman triumph.   Paul envisions God leading us in triumph in Christ.

There are varying accounts of the specifics of a triumph; it probably changed from age to age and maybe region to region.  Each triumph was probably an effort to outdo the previous on record.  The parade started with the state officials and senate leading the way.  They were followed by the trumpeters.  These trumpets announced something spectacular had happened and that the great man would soon be in sight.  Then the spoils of war from the conquered land were paraded.  The spoils were followed by pictures or models of the land, it ships or citadels that were conquered.  Next was a white bull that would be sacrificed.  The captured princes, leaders, generals who were all in chains followed the bull.  They would be killed as well, most likely not even living through the day.  There were then musicians that were followed by the priests swinging their censers filled with sweet smelling incense.  The priests led the way for the victorious general himself.  The star of the parade rode in an ornate chariot pulled by white horses and he was followed by his army wearing decorations of their victory, all the while shouting 'Triumph!'

An event like this didn't happen all the time.  In reality a person might only see this once or twice in his lifetime.  The city was decorated with bright colors, all the people lined the streets to see this event.  As it passed by, everyone threw flowers before the parade, the general and the army.  As the horse's hoofs pulverized the flowers on the street there was a strong scent.  The scent of the flowers mixed with the incense to create a very powerful and very memorable fragrance of the triumph.

That was probably one of those smells that brought back memories.  "Ah, yes, it was a gorgeous day.  The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot.  I still remember that smell of the incense and flowers when the general returned from his great victory.  Isn't it amazing how a smell can initiate vivid feelings and memories in our head?

I imagine Paul must have seen at least one of these Triumphs.  Paul saw himself, his followers and all these believers in the area following their conquering general in a parade very much like a triumph.  All of them were in a triumph of Christ.  Paul saw Jesus as the conquering general and the believers follow after him shouting 'triumph!'  This parade of Christianity was working its way through Ephesus, Corinth, Troas, and many other cities.  All along the way, on all of Paul's missionary journeys he saw this as a triumph for Christ.

Jesus was the general and in charge of all that was happening.  He was calling the shots.  Paul wasn't in charge so he didn't have to worry about making the wrong decision or what would happen in Corinth or anywhere else.  Paul was reminding himself and us that in a very real sense the victory was already won.  He had won a great victory and conquered enemy land.  Changes in plans and disappointment really weren't all that big a deal because Jesus is leading us in Triumph.

In the Roman empire, after the triumph parade passed by, there would have been the lingering fragrance of the flowers and incense.  It was in the air and everyone knew the triumph had been there.  In Paul's version of the triumph, God leads us in triumph with Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere.  When the triumph of Christianity passed, Paul envisioned a lingering fragrance; a fragrance of knowledge of Christ.  Wherever Paul went, there was an after-affect.  It was like a wake behind Paul.  That wake was the knowledge of Christ.  In that wake souls were saved; and lives were changed because the knowledge of Jesus Christ was left behind.

 

2 Corinthians 2:15-17

Just like Paul left the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ wherever he went, we should be leaving behind a similar fragrance wherever we go.  With this thought, there seems to be only two fragrances of which everything is scented;

Either the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ

Or the choking odor of Satan whcih smells of smoke and comes from the pit. 

What kind of fragrance are we leaving?  If you followed the triumph of one of these generals, you would reek of flowers and incense.  It would be in your clothes, your hair, even in your pores.  It would be all over you.  You couldn't deny where you had been because you would exude the intense aroma of it.  When you've been in the triumph following Christ the aroma of his knowledge just becomes part of you.  It becomes normal and you don't even notice it any longer.  Others that aren't used to it might say you reek of it.  It's all over you and comes out of you in everything you say and do.

Much of what passes for Christianity doesn't leave a very good smell behind as it passes.  In many cases it flat out stinks.  How is it for you and I?  One leads to life; the other death.  If we follow after Christ with all we have and we are part of this great triumph of Christ, we can't help but to be inundated with the aroma.

In those days the triumph was something talked about and commemorated.  The Romans built triumphal arches in some cases to mark these events.   Those watching the triumph pass by didn't need anything to commemorate the event.  It was memorable.  It was an exciting event and forever after the smell of those incense and flowers would remind them of that day. 

  • To those who were on the same side as the general it was the smell of victory and life. 
  • To those who were captive; who walked in chains it was the smell of defeat and death. 

The same scent of crushed flowers and incense delivered two completely different messages.  For some it smelled like life, to others it smelled like death.

For the triumph of Jesus Christ, it is the same way.  This fragrance of knowledge is left behind.  Everyone who experienced that triumph heard the same knowledge. 

  • To those who name Jesus as their general, it is the smell of life and victory. 
  • To those who are enemies, it smells like death. 

To one, Jesus is the aroma of life; to another Jesus is the aroma of death.

At the end of the triumph's in Rome.  The prisoners were marched to the Circus Maximus.  There they were put to death through many creative ways that the Romans thought was entertaining.  They died smelling like the incense and the crushed flowers.  To them it was the smell of death.  There will also be an end of the triumph of Jesus Christ.  The days of the knowledge of Jesus Christ will end.  There are many indications that we are living in those days.  Jesus Christ could return for his church any time.

Paul asked, "Who is sufficient for these things?"  None of us are sufficient.  I certainly don't feel qualified.  We need to know our sufficiency is in Christ alone.  We don't have to have well formulated plan.  We don't have to have a slick sales pitch because we aren't peddling the word of God.  We are living it, breathing it, walking in this triumph of Christ.

All this was said by Paul as a means of answering why he changed his plans or why he didn't do what he said he would.  Plans change because situations change.  Life changes, people change, feelings change, the world is changing.  It seems like such a little thing to fret over in the grand scheme of things, doesn't it?

Life is full of disappointment and wrecked plans.  But its okay, let it go, remember with whom we walk and in whom we walk because we walk with Christ.  He will use every situation for his glory.  He will work in all things.  There is something bigger than our plans and our feelings that get disappointed.

Paul said we speak in the sight of God in Christ, sincerely.  We walk with him in Triumph.  We are in close proximity, He's just ahead, He's right there.  We can almost see him.  Are you ready?

 

©2006, 2010, 2016, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater