The underlying point of
this letter is that there was – as there always is – a rebellious someone in
the circle, bent on causing trouble and stirring up mischief.
The background of this
letter is to highlight genuine love, empathy, compassion, example of fellowship discipline, and example of Christian behavior.
It is okay … and even
commendable … to steer clear of situations where circumstances are decidedly
unfavorable & can lead to a rebellious turning from Yeshua. One can still
love (and lovingly counsel, and/or discipline) from a distance, without
becoming entangled in dicey hostilities.
I can relate.
**********
2 CORINTHIANS ~ Chapter 2
“In thinking it
through, I made up my mind not to come to you again in displeasure. For, if I
were to bring sorrow to you, who then would make me glad, except the very one
who I have offended? Indeed, I said this very thing in my letter to you, for
fear that when I came I might have sorrow from those I should expect to give me
joy. I trust you are all alike in this, that what would make me happy would
also have the same effect on all of you. And when I wrote to you, I was much troubled,
had anguish in my heart and shed many tears. I did not wish to bring sorrow
upon you, but rather to have you know of the abundant love I have for you.
But if there is anyone
who has caused grief, it is not me only whom he has caused sorrow, but all of
you, at least in some measure, not to overstate the case. The majority of you
have censured him for his misdeeds, and I think this is, in his case, discipline
enough. Now it would seem proper for you to turn about and forgive him and
encourage him, otherwise his sorrow may overpower him. I urge you, therefore,
to show him that you still love him. I had this in mind, too, when I wrote
about him, to see some proof of how obedient you are in carrying out my instructions.
I, too, am willing to forgive anyone anything that you forgive. And when I have
pardoned anyone for anything, I, too, have done it for your sake in the Name of
mashiach. For thus Lucifer will not get the better of us; for we know about his
strategies.
When I went to Troas to
preach the Gospel of Mashiach, there was there an open door for me in Adonai
Yeshua:
Still, I had no peace
of mind, because I did not find Titus, my brother, there. I therefore took
leave of them and went on to Macedonia …
But thanks be to
Elohim, Who in Mashiach always led us to victory, and through us makes our
knowledge of Him penetrate every place like a sweet perfume! For we are to
Elohim the sweet perfume of Mashiach, made manifest both among those who are
being saved and also those who are going to destruction. To the latter, it is
the smell of doom and death itself, but to the former it is a perfume of life
to life. Now, who is competent to preach this way? We are; for we are not, like
so many, making profit by teaching Elohei’s Word falsely. No, we are sincere.
We have been sent out by Elohim, we are Mashiach’s ministers, and speak as in
Elohei’s presence.”
