2 Corinthians 2

January 7, 2026

2 Corinthians 2 ESV

For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.  For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?  And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.  For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.  Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.  For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.  For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Discussion Questions:

In chapter 2 the Apostle Paul continues to explain to the Corinthian brethren why he did not visit them. 

1)  The Church Trial in Corinth. 

Verses 1 – 11:  How did Paul handle this situation and was not visiting the right decision?

2)  Waiting for Titus

Verses 12-13:  Paul was waiting for a report from Titus on the Corinthian brethren.  How do verses 12 and 13 show Paul’s concern for the Corinthian brethren?

3)    Paul’s Sufferings Associated with his Ministry

 Verses 14-17:  How did Paul’s sufferings reveal his heart motivation in his dealings with the Corinthian brethren.

Discussion Summary:

Verses 1-11:  We are informed in 1 Corinthians 5 that a brother attending the ecclesia had committed an immoral act with his father’s wife.  Paul had commanded the brethren to deal with the situation by disfellowshipping the brother (removing him from the privileges of the ecclesia).  Paul had to follow up with a short visit to enforce this judgment.  He then left and waited to hear whether the brethren would deal with the situation.  In verse 9 he indicates that he hoped his persuasion was the deciding factor and not the pressure of his personal presence.  He did not want to be harsh and intimidating again.  He did not visit until he heard from Titus that the matter had been resolved.  He had confidence that the Holy Spirit would guide the brethren to act properly in the interest of the brother and the community.

Verses 12,13:  Even though Paul was involved in a prospering ministry in Troas, he left the area to find Titus who was returning from Corinth.  Paul was worried that Titus was delayed because the situation in Corinth was unresolved.  This shows that Paul was not neglecting them, but that he cared for them as much as his other responsibilities.

Verses 14-17:  Paul says that he was “on display” in verse 14.  The idea seems to be that Paul is likening himself to being part of a triumphal march by a conquering general where prisoners of war and captives would be paraded in chains.  Everywhere Paul went, he was vilified and persecuted for Christ.  He is telling the Corinthians that he does not look for their flattery and appreciation before he would visit.  Their reception of him would not be a deciding factor in whether he should visit.  His ministry is much greater than those considerations (Hebrews 13:12,13).