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Paul's and the Corinthians
In today's reading, Paul mentions a "painful visit" to the Corinthians. Paul had a number of letters and visits exchanged with the Corinthians. As we saw in 1 Corinthians, the relationship between them was difficult: the church itself had a lot of problems, as well as a large group of people who didn't particularly like Paul. This letter is called 2 Corinthians, but there was most likely another letter in between 1 and 2 Corinthians that God didn't think the Church needed to have in the NT canon. We don't have this letter, but the context of 2 Corinthians suggests that there was more communication. All this being said, it's difficult to construct a timeline of the relationship based on the material we have. Here's a good try at it - many others would be very similar with some slight differences:
Paul's and the Corinthians
In today's reading, Paul mentions a "painful visit" to the Corinthians. Paul had a number of letters and visits exchanged with the Corinthians. As we saw in 1 Corinthians, the relationship between them was difficult: the church itself had a lot of problems, as well as a large group of people who didn't particularly like Paul. This letter is called 2 Corinthians, but there was most likely another letter in between 1 and 2 Corinthians that God didn't think the Church needed to have in the NT canon. We don't have this letter, but the context of 2 Corinthians suggests that there was more communication. All this being said, it's difficult to construct a timeline of the relationship based on the material we have. Here's a good try at it - many others would be very similar with some slight differences:
(Click to enlarge)
Paul certainly cared about this church: despite hatred from some and a vast array of problems, Paul spent a lot of time working, writing, and visiting this church.
One more quick note about 5-11 to give some understanding:
"Though Paul nowhere mentions the specifics of the offense itself, it must have involved some sort of slander against him and his apostolic relationship with the Corinthians. Perhaps the offender had been a person of influence who had sided with Paul’s opponents and led the opposition against Paul. Whatever the case, most of the Corinthians had initially sided with this slanderer. Later, after the majority had repented as a result of his “tearful letter” (2:4; 7:8–13), they grieved with Paul because of the offender’s influence over them. They consequently punished the offender (2:6), most likely by excluding him from the fellowship of the Christian community in accordance with the precedent set in 1 Corinthians 5:2, 5, 13.
The punishment had its intended, salutary impact. The offender had repented. He was ready to rejoin the congregation. In response, Paul calls the Corinthians to follow in his footsteps not only in pouring out punishment on those who deserve it, but also in showing mercy to the repentant." [1] (emphasis mine)
This is the second part of church discipline. I mentioned in 1 Corinthians that most churches have a real problem in enacting church discipline. First of all, most churches simply are willing to do it. But the second problem that churches have is this one: they are willing to "punish", but not to forgive. Remember, the purpose of church discipline isn't punishment, but restoration. As faithfully as the discipline is enacted, the restoration and forgiveness should be enacted.
Questions? Comments?
[1] Scott J. Hafemann, 2 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 88.
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