- Instructions to leaders: The church had disciplined or punished the person. It appears that he had a godly sorrow which lead him into repentance. The sorrow of the world brings a person to remorse and hopeless end, but Godly sorrow brings repentance and accept God. It appears that the church was not willing him to take back. So Paul instructs the members and elders of the church to accept him and bring him back into the fellowship, lest Satan may bring depression in his life and destroy him. Satan wants us to believe that we cannot be forgiven (Zech. 3:1-5). He makes schemes all the time for the downfall of the believers.
We must take this to heart and examine to see our own churches.
- How many churches are presently in India who are just silent spectators when a member or members are sinning?
The answer is very few.
- How many churches in India where the leaders impose discipline when the members are living in sin?
The answer is again very few.
- How many churches in India who are willing to restore the fellowship after an erring member or members have undergone repentance?
The answer is very few again.
We must understand that when Peter showed repentance after he took many disciples back to their own fishing, the Lord graciously brought him back and restored him the ministry. That was a true godly repentance. But Judas Iscariot had worldly sorrow and showed remorse and ultimately ended into suicide.
The Joy in Christian fellowship: (2:12-13):
It is a pleasant situation when brethren meet together. Paul went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ. Although it was a trouble all through Corinth, there was a great awaiting for Paul. The door for the Gospel was open at Troas. Paul was looking for a fellowship or a team work to continue his ministry. He did not find Titus in Troas, so he went down to Macedonia. Perhaps he would have done a good ministry in that short time. When God opens a door, no one can shut it. In every place of trial, there would also be great opportunities for the ministry.
In every place of trial there would be opportunities to triump. Joseph turned trials into triumph in Egypt. Daniel did in Babylon and so we can see Paul did at Troas.
When Paul found Titus in Macedonia, who was making a collection for the poor believers of Judea and Jerusalem, he was overjoyed. He also received the good news that the offender at Corinth had been disciplined, the majority of the church was behind Paul, and things were looking better.
The triumphal procession and the fragrance of the Gospel: (2:14-16):
Paul gives the image of Roman triumphal procession where a victorious general returns to Rome, he comes with a great public parade with pomp and glory and a great amount of incense used to be burned which fills the entire atmosphere with fragrance. The slaves follow the soldiers in the march. In the parade, the officers, generals would enjoy glory and praise smelling the fragrance, but to the slaves, the same fragrance was a reminder of death as they end up in the arena fighting with wild beasts.
This reminds us of the Christian parade. The Lord Jesus Christ has conquered every foe with the cross. As we Christians walk with Christ, the fragrance of the Gospel is a sweet savour and life to every believing person, but at the same time it is a reminder of death and eternal condemnation to every person who rejects the Gospel or un-believer. This reminds us of the verse (1 Cor. 1:18).
Paul’s faithfulness to preach the Gospel: (2:17):
Paul reiterates that a great responsibility is put upon him. It is the responsibility of rescuing the people eternal condemnation. “Some like to live within the sound of Church bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell” CT Studd.
For some Christians, ministry is a vacation. But for the believers, ministry should be a call or vocation. Some people are out to make money through the ministry. They indulge in all sorts of corrupt practices to mint money. Paul uses the word “peddle” meaning an innkeeper, which is used for profit making. But Paul says that “Our sufficiency is of God.” Christ is sufficient for our spiritual needs (3:4-6), our material needs (9:8), and our physical needs (12:7-10). Paul was sincere and honest in his dealing. Further he did not even take the support from Corinthians but lived as a tent maker which supported his ministry and his needs. He was sincere in method, message, and motive. He realized that God’s eye was upon him and that Christ’s glory was at stake.