2 Corinthians 2 reminds me of a phrase my mom used, “You’re only hurting yourself”. It applies to many situations where we hold onto pain from the past. The object of our anger probably does not care, while bitterness can consume us. Paul continues his explanation for not making “another painful visit” to the church in Corinth. Paul’s first letter is full of correction directed at the church leaders. Apparently, it was also painful for Paul. “I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears… to let you know the depth of my love for you.” But Paul adds, “I had confidence in all of you”. To their credit, the Corinthian church had followed Paul’s instruction about not permitting open sin within the church. Remember they were tolerating incest in the name of grace. Paul held the church members to a higher standard than non-believers. “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?” (1 Cor 5:12). Restoration is the primary purpose of the Christian church. That is for both non-believers, and those that have fallen away from the faith.
Paul seems to be discussing a specific person that accepted the correction from the church leaders and changed his ways. (See Matthew Chapter 18 for the full process.) Paul reminds them that there is a “part two” to church discipline that includes extending mercy. After change, “you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow”. The repentant believer is to be reunited with his church family; “reaffirm your love for him”. Paul explains why that is necessary. “I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us”. Satan seeks to divide and isolate in order to destroy. It is easy to develop a feeling of superiority when someone else messes up and gets caught. Nothing is more Christlike than extending unconditional forgiveness.
The chapter closes with the two common reactions to anyone that will effectively “preach the gospel of Christ”. Paul was constantly teaching and preaching but knows the “Lord had opened a door”. His results are not due solely to his efforts, “thanks be to God, who always leads us”. Paul says that God “uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere”. Paul adds that to God, “we are… the pleasing aroma of Christ”. When God looks at a born-again believer, He sees a sinless saint because of the once-and-for-all atonement of Christ. We get two very different reactions from “those who are being saved and those who are perishing”. The exact same message of forgiveness through Christ is an encouragement to one but an offense to the other. “To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life”. In truth, I once ridiculed people of faith. Today, when I see vile hatred being spewed at Christians, I suspect that is a reaction to internal pain. It grieves me to imagine their anger is the result of Christian malpractice. The cross represents both reconciliation with God, and with each other. Jesus is at the center of both. My friend, if you are holding onto unforgiveness, you are only hurting yourself.