If anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure (not to exaggerate) to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person, 7 so that on the contrary you should forgive and encourage him instead, or else the person may be overwhelmed by excessive pain. 8 Therefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, to know your proven character, whether you were obedient in everything. 10 Whomever you forgive anything, so do I. For indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for you in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we might not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not unaware of his purposes.
Paul acknowledges that someone has caused harm, emphasizing that the injury was not directed at him personally but has affected the Corinthian church community as a whole. He refers to the disciplinary action taken by the community, which some scholars suggest may be the excommunication described in 1 Corinthians 5:5. The phrase "punishment by the majority" indicates that the church collectively and deliberately decided on a measure to address and correct the individual’s behavior, reflecting the communal responsibility for maintaining the holiness and unity of the Body of Christ.
Paul encourages the Corinthians to forgive the offender now that he has repented, emphasizing that the purpose of their disciplinary action was not punitive but restorative. The ultimate goal is to bring the sinner back into full communion with the Church, preventing him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and reaffirming the community's mission as a channel of God's mercy and reconciliation. He wants the community to reaffirm their love for the penitent by publicly welcoming him back into their fellowship.
Paul explains that the purpose of his earlier letter was to test their faith and obedience. Their response to his instructions revealed their commitment to the Gospel and living out its demands.
Paul unites his act of forgiveness with that of the community, emphasizing the essential unity within the Church. His statement that he forgives "in the presence of Christ" underscores the authority and guidance of Christ operating through the apostolic ministry (John 20:22–23). Paul warns the community against the dangers of unforgiveness, which fosters division and can give Satan a foothold in the community (Eph. 4:26–27).
Heavenly Father, help us to forgive as You forgive, to restore the broken with love, and to resist the schemes of division. May our hearts reflect Your boundless mercy and may we always seek unity in Christ. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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