2 Corinthians 2 and verse 1 reads.
2Cor.2:1] But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
I don’t want a painful visit.
2Cor.2:2] For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
If I make you mad at me, who will pick us up?
2Cor.2:3] And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
Fix it before I come.
2Cor.2:4] For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
Knowing that Paul is about to visit them, and knowing of a trouble they must have had. Paul is saying here that sometimes it takes tough love to bring discipline back to the church. A church without discipline is not teaching the word of God.
2Cor.2:5] But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
[6] Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
[7] So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
[8] Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
[9] For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
[10] To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
Paul is saying fix it before I get there. This should never have come before him or for him to get involved, they themselves should handle it with the love of Christ. Tough love is needed whether it be in the house of God, or in your own homes. Paul explains it better in 1Thes.5:11-15 and it reads.
1Thes.5:11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
[12] And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Speaking of tough love here.
1Thes.5:13] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
[14] Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
[15] See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Admonish one another when needs be, but with patience and love. Back to 2Cor.2 and verse 11 reads.
2Cor.2:11] Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Satan is always looking for a way into a church, and disorder is an easy way in.
2Cor.2:12] Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
The Lord opened the door, and guided his way.
2Cor.2:13] I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
[14] Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Though he worried for his brother Titus, he triumphed in the Lord. The Lord will guide us where he needs us.
2Cor.2:15] For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
“Doing” his work we triumph in that we preach Christ our Savior to them that don’t believe. And those that come to believe, the glory belongs to the LORD.
2Cor.2:16] To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
[17] For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Some will believe and some won’t. We can only plant the seed but God only can make it grow. Teach what you learn to others and keep studying, we all learn a little every day. We are all students of the Word of God. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible