2:1 So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. 2:2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad? 2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. 2:4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.

Another painful visit – It is usually thought that ‘Paul’s second visit to Corinth was a painful visit between the writing of 1 and 2 Corinthians’.  According to Stephen Carlson (JBL 135, no. 3 (2016): 597–615), this largely rests on ‘a particular parsing of the adverb πάλιν in 2 Cor 2:1 τὸ μὴ πάλιν ἐν λύπῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐλθεῖν.’

Carlson concludes:

‘πάλιν only has ἐλθεῖν in its scope and so Paul decided not to come back to Corinth with grief for them to experience. Although there probably was a second visit to Corinth (2 Cor 12:14 and 13:1–2), πάλιν in 2 Cor 2:1 thus does not actually say enough to characterize further its nature or to place it relative to the writing of 1 Corinthians. In fact, it probably does not refer to it at all. As a result, πάλιν should not be used to justify the existence of a painful, interim visit by Paul to Corinth

2:5 But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well. 2:6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 2:7 so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair. 2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

The ‘problem’ requiring church discipline is undefined here, but the procedure is: after sincere repentance

1. Forgive him
2. Comfort him
3. Love him

The following passages deal with church discipline: Mt 18:15-18; 1 Cor 5; 2 Cor 2:5-11; Gal 6:1; 2 Thess 3:6-15; 1 Tim 5:19f; Tit 3:9-11.

2:9 For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. 2:10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him—for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 2:11 so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

We are not ignorant of his schemes –

Gurnall:

‘Satan was too crafty for man in his perfection, much more now in his maimed estate…Study his wiles, and acquaint thyself with Satan’s policy. Paul takes it for granted, that every saint doth in some measure understand them: ‘We are not ignorant of his devices,’ 2 Cor. 2:11. He is but an ill fencer that knows and observes nothing of his enemy’s play.’

Stott:

‘I do not claim any close personal acquaintance with the devil. . . . But what I do know is that he is a fanatic, and the enemy of all common sense, moderation and balance. One of his favourite pastimes is to upset our equilibrium, and tip Christians (especially evangelical Christians) off balance. If he cannot induce us to deny Christ, he will get us to distort Christ instead. In consequence lopsided Christianity is widespread, in which we over-emphasise one aspect of a truth, while under-emphasising another.’ (The Contemporary Christian)

2:12 Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me, 2:13 I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.

Apostolic Ministry, 14-17

2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 2:15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing—2:16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 2:17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

The passage that extends from 2:14 to 7:4 is generally regarded as a digression. The alternative view, held by some scholars, is that this passage is another letter from Paul which has been accidentally inserted into the present letter

‘has little to commend it, because the first copies were on scrolls (codices were later), which preclude accidental insertions.’ (NT Background Commentary)

‘What Paul has been saying up to this point in the letter could be taken as a rather depressing account of his ministry. He has spoken of hardships suffered in Asia, criticisms of his integrity, pain experienced in Corinth and his inability to settle to preaching in Troas. As if to balance this somewhat depressing account, Paul goes on to strike a positive note, describing how God always and in every place enabled him to carry on an effective ministry.’ (NBC)

God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ – Picturing a Roman victory procession, with Paul as a soldier being led in triumph by God.  But it is not a ‘triumphalist’ image, for victory comes through suffering (NBC).

…who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place –

‘In the triumphal procession sweet-smelling incense was offered to the gods and Paul says that through us God spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.’ (NBC)

Who is equal to such a task? – The question will be answered in 2 Cor 3:5 – ‘Our competence comes from God.’

Unlike so many – Paul is referring to those false teachers who had invaded his territory at Corinth, an dwhom he will denounce in more detail in the later chapters of this epistle. Probably, there were similar people troubling other churches. If this should happen in Paul’s day, we should not be surprised to find ‘many’ false teachers troubling and deceiving the church today.

We do not peddle the word of God for profit – ‘It is characteristic of these intruders that they go about hawking or peddling the word of God cheapening and degrading the message by the illegitimate admixture of foreign elements, judaistic or pagan, as a dishonest merchant adulterates wine with water; they seek only their own gain, irrespective of the effect of their teaching on others and careless of the momentous issues which are at stake; self-interest governs their outlook…They have taken up “apostleship” as a business, and so long as it brings quick returns they are not particularly scrupulous as to how they conduct it. In unmistakeable contrast, Paul, who is the Corinthians’ genuine apostle, exercises a ministry which, subjectively, is stamped with complete sincerity and objectively, is derived from God (cf.1:1).’ (Hughes)

‘The Greek expression, which we have translated, “peddle,” is derived from a word, the etymology of which is not quite agreed on by lexicographers. It either means a tradesman, who does his business dishonestly, or a vintner, who adulterates the wine which he exposes for sale. Tyndale renders it, “We are not of those who chop and change the Word of God.” The Rhemish version is, “We are not as many, who adulterate the Word of God.” In our margin we read, “We are not as many, who deal deceitfully with the Word of God.” In the construction of the sentence, the Holy Spirit has inspired Paul to use both the negative and the positive way of stating the truth. This mode of construction adds clearness and unmistakableness to the meaning of the words, and intensity and strength to the assertion, which they contain. Instances of a similar construction occur in three other remarkable passages of Scripture, two on the subject of baptism, one on the subject of the new birth..’ (Jn 1:13 1 Pet 1:23 1 Pet 3:21) (J.C. Ryle)

‘In the Greek, the word peddle refers to winemakers who had a little scam. They would dilute the wine and pass it off as if it were the real thing. Paul says no, don’t violate the integrity of the truth of God’s Word. Don’t become so concerned about “communication” that the pure content is diluted. Paul goes on to say, “On the contrary … we speak before God with sincerity.” That tells us to be genuine in our communication, maintaining integrity. Don’t be an orator who becomes an actor, who gets so enthralled by saying something in a way that people will give you a standing ovation. Don’t be overly concerned with turning a phrase in a way to get the smiles and approval of people.’ (Crawford Lorrits, in The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching, eds. Robinson & Larson, ch. 6)