Confirm Your Love Toward Him 2 Corinthians 2:8

The church in Corinth obeyed Paul the apostle's directive to put a man out of the church who was committing adultery with his father's wife, and after the man repented, Paul told the church members, “contrariwise you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him”. He added how they should do so, “lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow”. In chapter two and verse eight of Second Corinthians, Paul instructed the church members, “I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him”, where we read:

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

The verse begins, “Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love ...” Paul began with the word, “wherefore” which means “for which cause, on this account and therefore” “I beseech you” or “Paul exhorted, desired, entreated and besought the church members” “that you would confirm” which means “that the church members would make valid publicly or solemnly and ratify” “your love” or “the church members' affection, goodwill, benevolence and unconditional brotherly love”. Paul concluded and “entreated” the church members to “make valid” their “unconditional brotherly love”.

The verse continues, “... toward him.” Paul continued with the word, “toward” which means “to or unto” “him” which refers to “the sinful man”. Paul wanted their “love” to be expressed toward this “repentant” sinful man.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see him express again his care and concern for not only the “repentant” sinful man, but also for the behavior of the church members. They were to “solemnly ratify” their “love” toward this man, and even though he sinned, he was to be “restored”. Jesus Christ is in the restoration business, and though a person has destroyed their life, He is able to “forgive, redeem and save” them. We should do likewise, and should we have occasion on either side, whether the sinful one or the one who needs to forgive, let us follow the example of our Savior Jesus and His servant Paul and “confirm our love”.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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