Power in Weakness: The Message of 2nd Corinthians (Forgiveness - 2:5-17)

In Second Corinthians, the Apostle Paul explored how God’s power works best in our weakness and how God offers comfort when we’re frustrated and discouraged. He also challenged the Corinthians to give for the sake of others and to share the message of reconciliation. We’re following the outline below:

• Session 1 - Paul’s Greeting (1:1-11)
• Session 2 - A Change in Plans (1:12 – 2:4)
• Session 3 - Forgiveness (2:5-17)
• Session 4 - God’s New Agreement (3:1-18)
• Session 5 - Treasure in Clay Jars (4:1-15)
• Session 5 - Hope (4:16 – 5:10)
• Session 6 - Bringing People to God (5:11 – 6:13)
• Session 7 - The Temple of God (6:14 – 7:1)
• Session 8 - Paul’s Joy (7:2-16)
• Session 9 - Rules for Giving (8:1-24)
• Session 10 - Money for God’s (9:1-24)
• Session 11 - A Major Shift in Tone  (10:1-18)
• Session 12 - False Prophets (11:1-15)
• Session 13 - Suffering (11:16 – 12:13)
• Session 14 - A Coming Visit (12:14 – 13:4)
• Session 15 - In Conclusion (13:5-13)

During our third session, we discussed importance of forgiveness (2 Corinthians 2:5-17). The discussion and passage follow.

2 Corinthians 2:5-17 [New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition]

But if anyone has caused grief, he has caused it not to me but to some extent—not to exaggerate it—to all of you. This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by even worse grief. So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. I wrote for this reason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. In fact, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ. And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.

When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord, but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: to the one group a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is qualified for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many, but as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God, we are speaking in Christ before God.