Immorality and Forgiveness

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Reasons for not Coming to Corinth

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In these verses we see why Paul tarried for so long. We see, what we had suspected all along, that he did not want to go to Corinth and be the "taskmaster", rather he wanted his visit to be one of harmony and fellowship. But, there were problems at Corinth and Paul wanted them taken care of and he spoke very plainly about them in his first letter. He hoped that they, with the help of Timothy, would resolve them so that he would not have to make another "painful" visit but rather come and show the love that he had for them.

By this time, Paul was getting older. He desired to have fellowship with his fellow Christians in love and peace. Paul was tired of scolding and admonishing these people, yet that was one of the things that the Lord called him to do. Still, he did not look forward to another painful visit to Corinth. Even the letter "pained" him to write it. Paul had great love for these people but he also had great concern for them and their knowledge of the truth. These are needed credentials for anyone to witness for Christ.

Punishment for Pain

Back in Paul's first letter chapter 5, he wrote, "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you of the kind not found among pagans, for a man is living with his father's wife." "Let him who had done this be removed from you." It would appear from verse 6 that they had done as Paul suggested. "For such a one, punishment, by the majority, is enough." Now Paul demonstrates another credential of his Apostleship, "Forgiveness."

It would appear that the punishment of this man brought great pain to Paul and he believed that it did to them also. But now that the punishment was complete, they must show Christian love and forgiveness toward this man. Why? Paul lists two reasons. One, for the mans sake. It appears that the man, as the result of their action, had repented and was much grieved over the position that he found himself in, that of being separated from the fellowship. Paul instructs them to hasten and forgive and comfort this man before he is overwhelmed with excessive sorrow.

The second reason was for their sake. "Forgive and keep Satan from gaining an advantage over you." Now we might assume that the reason why Paul wanted them to take this action against this man was to "purge" the church, but not so. The only reason for doing something like this is for the good of the person involved. Now, in this letter, Paul gives another reason why he wanted them to do it, "I wrote and told you to do this that I might test you and see if you were obedient in everything." They obeyed him then now he is asking them to obey him once more and forgive this man as Christ had forgiven them. Obedience and forgiveness are the credentials of a Christian.

Paul's Success in Macedonia

Paul had left Ephesus, where he wrote his first letter, and went to Troas, which was north of Ephesus about 200 miles and on the way to Corinth if you took the land route. When he got there, he looked for Titus. Why? Well we have to assume here that by now Paul knew that Timothy would not be able to handle the problems in Corinth that Paul had sent him to handle. We know from his first letter that he was going to send Titus to Corinth to handle the job that Timothy could not, so it would seem that Paul, when he went up to Troas, expected to find Titus and assign him to Corinth.

While Paul was there at Troas, the Lord blessed him and used him greatly in the preaching of the Gospel, but Paul's mind was on the Corinthians and he needed Titus to go there so he left Toras and headed on further north and east around the northern end of the Aegean Sea, over into Macedonia. In Macedonia, Paul also had great success and he gave God the phrase and credit for this success.

Paul even found comfort even when the Gospel was not successful. Paul realized a little spoken of fact about the Gospel. Some are saved by it, some perish by it. To some, it brings eternal life, to some eternal death. Some are enlightened by it, some are blinded. We have no say or control over this, it is in the hands of God. To Paul, this fact brought great fear into his life. Notice what he says in verse 16, "Who is worthy to be employed in this great work?" Who can witness to so great a salvation and know that the results of that witness is totally out of their hands. What a feeling of helplessness.

Elsewhere Paul gives some comfort to those in this great ministry. To those, who are faithful, rest assured that they are accepted regardless of their success, that they are rewarded according to their faithfulness not according to their apparent success. This knowledge was a great comfort to Paul as it should be to anyone who witnesses for Christ.

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