2 Corinthians 2:1-2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 

Paul next moves deeper into the reason for his change of mind in visiting the Corinthians. The central word of these verses is “pain.” The Greek word (lypo, related to leukemia) can mean suffering some type of emotional distress. Paul mentions first the pain the Corinthians would experience with his planned visit. Paul does not state exactly how he would have caused pain for them when he came. There are possible reasons, however. As a representative of Christ and preacher of the gospel of holiness and love, he would have brought conviction and possibly condemnation for how the Corinthians were acting. The Holy Spirit was working through the word that Paul proclaimed. This word was not always easy to accept, especially when it confronted sin. No one likes to be told he or she is wrong, and likely the Corinthians were the same. Paul also might cause pain to them by confronting certain individuals who were living in sin, such as the man having sexual relations with his fathers wife described in 1 Corinthians 5.

Paul loved the churches. His visit would be out of love, but sometimes love has to be tough. Paul’s pain would turn to joy, just like the Corinthians’ pain would turn to joy, if they would heed his words and change their ways. His strong message, which we see in 1 Corinthians, came from a heart of love and concern. He could be referring to one specific person in v. 2 or a more open-ended or hypothetical “whoever.” The same situation applies with either. Confronting wrong is not an easy thing to do. It often involves great personal, relational, or emotional risk, but it may be necessary.

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