(2Co 2:4) “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.”  This verse reference should be penned above 1st Corinthians with these words: “This rebuke was penned from a heart full of love.” That love was prompted from the Holy Spirit inside Paul. The Lord loves His Own!

(2Co 2:3) “And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.”  Be careful in not perceiving the two sides of “I wrote….lest, when I came…” to mean Paul wrote of his own determination and will. He did not. When the Bible says, (2Ti_3:16) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,…”, it gives us this understanding: the Holy Spirit moved Paul to think like this and make determinations in this way.

(2Co 2:2) “For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?”  When the flesh rebukes, it normally is done so with some animosity in one’s own heart. When it done in obedience to the Spirit of God, it is for the good of the other person. It is done with love in one’s heart for the other person.

(2Co 2:1) “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.”  The more you love others before self, the more careful you will be in what you say and how you say it. Honesty – yes at all times. But there is a time and place for sharing, teaching, and rebuking. We must look to the Holy Spirit for guidance as to the when and how.

(2Co 1:24) “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”   “For by faith we stand…”  I find that by reading the whole of Scripture, this is the definition of faith: “Faith is believing what God says is true.” Heed: faith is not believing what I want to be true; it is believing what the Bible “says”; that….is true. The shame of it is, most have never read the whole Word of God so know only what someone else has told them.

(2Co 1:24) “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” The attitude here is the opposite of the world’s view of authority. The world sees authority as being over another person. Biblical authority is service to others. One is merely a vessel that is used of God. Even to rebuke under His direction is for their good rather than the authority’s.

(2Co 1:23) “Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.”  Paul felt led to put off the rebuke and discipline he might have to administer. There he put off his visit. This is a good example of when it might be best God not give us our desire.

(2Co 1:22) “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”  “Sealed”: (1Pe_1:5)  “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”. “Earnest”: it refers to a non-refundable down payment; (Tit_1:2) “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

(2Co 1:21) “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;”  Oh the goodness of God to save each of us sinners! He “stablished” us, confirmed us not by the consistency of our walk, but “in” the very Person of our perfect Savior. On top of, added to, that secure position, He “anointed us” with Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

 (2Co 1:20) “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”  “….all the promises…are yea (yes), and….Amen…”  The promises of God to His saved children are all good and settled – sure (Amen). There is no reason for any true child to doubt His Word.