1.

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

Verse 1
In heaviness; in sadness.

2.

For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

Verse 2
He wished to regard his spiritual children as the source of joy and happiness to him, and accordingly he did not wish to be the means of giving pain to them.

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.

Verse 3
That my joy is the joy of you all, that my enjoyment consists in promoting and witnessing yours.

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.

Verse 4
I wrote unto you; referring to his former Epistle.

5.

But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

Verse 5
It is generally supposed that the individual whose case is considered in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13: is referred to in this passage. (2 Corinthians 2:5-8.) The meaning of this verse is not clear. The idea may be, that the pain which that case had given the apostle was only a partial and temporary interruption to the joy and satisfaction which the church at Corinth had generally afforded him.

6.

Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

Verse 6
It would seem that Paul had learned, perhaps through Titus, (see 2 Corinthians 7:5-7,) that the church had exercised towards this offending member the discipline which he had recommended in the former Epistle.

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.

Verse 7
Ye ought rather to forgive him; that is, ye ought now to forgive him.

8.

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

Verse 8
Confirm; restore and establish.

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;

11.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Verse 11
Get an advantage; by retaining in his kingdom one, who, being penitent, ought now to be restored to the kingdom of Christ. (Compare 1 Corinthians 5:5.)

12.

Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

Verse 12
Troas was on the coast near the north-eastern corner of the Egean Sea, on the way from Ephesus to Macedonia.

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.

Verse 13
I had no rest in my spirit. He felt so solicitous to hear from Corinth that he could not continue in his work at Troas, although a favorable opportunity for effort seemed to be open there before him. He accordingly went on into Macedonia, hoping to find Titus there.

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.

Verse 14
In every place; that is, wherever we go. Though he left a favorable opening for usefulness in Troas he found that he was made the instrument of disseminating the knowledge of God in Macedonia.

15.

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

Verse 15
We are unto God a sweet savor; our labors and instrumentality are acceptable to God.

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?

Verse 16
The savor of death unto death; by being the means of greatly aggravating their sin. For the guilt and condemnation of the sinner is in proportion to the light and the privileges which he enjoys.--For these things; for such high responsibilities.

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.