10 June - 2 Corinthians 2

We continue in 2 Corinthians today, chapter 2. Here are a few thoughts:

1. At the conclusion of the last chapter and the first few verses of this one we get a clearer picture of why Paul delayed coming to Corinth. He didn’t want to come and have to admonish them. Instead he desired to have a pleasant visit with them. That is why Paul said he wrote the first letter to them (the book in the Bible called 1 Corinthians). He was stern with them in 1 Corinthians so they would change their ways and he could have an enjoyable visit with them later.
2. Then Paul tells them it’s time to forgive the people they “disciplined” according to his direction in 1 Corinthians. He said they have been punished long enough and now should be welcomed back into the church. We can assume Paul is referring to the ones who were repentant of the shame they bought on the church and Jesus for their sins.
3. Paul closes with saying he is the smell of death to some and the fragrance of life to others. He is talking about how people receive him because of his preaching the message of Jesus. To the religious leaders who wanted to kill Paul and extinguish the teachings of Jesus they would consider Paul the smell of death. However, to the broken people enslaved in their own sin and the chains of religion the message of hope and grace found in Jesus is life giving. 

Does the forgiveness Paul encourages the Corinthians to give others stir in you the memory of someone you need to forgive? If so, act quickly (with God’s help) so that bitterness doesn’t take root in your heart. Would the hurting people you meet every week consider the message of your life a pleasant “smell”? It’s a tough question but we have to be honest with ourselves so we can grow into the people God wants us to become.