THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

In this letter we shall find even more derogatory accusations directed at Paul. As if all his apostolic sufferings were not enough, he has to cope with regular abuse from other believers. People have caused him grief (v 5) – and it hurts. By this time, he had come to expect opposition from outside the churches. From the time of his conversion, Jesus had warned him that this would come.1 To be wounded by fellow believers, however, was a different matter and infinitely more painful.

This passage describes how the church in Corinth had disciplined one of its members. This is not the same case as that referred to in Paul’s previous letter.2 It relates rather to something that happened when Paul made his painful visit – indeed it may have been a major cause of the pain. Someone (a man) had verbally attacked Paul and publicly abused him. We speculate about his motives. The incident was damaging to Paul and the whole church (v 5). Now the church had taken the perpetrator in hand and made it clear that he had acted wrongly. This disapproval was probably all the punishment amounted to (v 6), but it was enough to provoke sorrow and bring redress. Now Paul urges forgiveness and the reaffirmation of love, adding that he too had let go of the offense and the offender, which is what forgiveness actually means (v 10). By letting go of animosity all around, no room is left for Satan, the accuser, to disrupt God’s good work.

Sowing hostility through relationship breakdown is a satanic ‘scheme’ (see v 11). It inhibits the flow of love and trust and happens often, even where it should not. It is a device against which we should continually be on our guard. It is hurtful, an abomination to God. Repentance and forgiveness are the only remedy.

Pray: ‘Search me, God, and know my heart … See if there is any offensive way in me.’3