If Any have Caused Grief 2 Corinthians 2:5

Paul the apostle shared with the church members in Corinth when he appeared to them he would not come to them, “out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears”, and his reason was so the church members, “might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you”. In chapter two and verse five of Second Corinthians, Paul asked the church members, “have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice”, where we read:

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

The verse begins, “But if any have caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part:” Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “if any have caused grief” or “whether any person makes sorrowful, affects with sadness, offends, makes one uneasy and causes him a scruple”, “he has not grieved me” which means “that person has not made Paul sorrowful, affected with sadness, offended, made one uneasy and caused his a scruple”, “but” or “with the same precedence, moreover and nevertheless” “in part” or “partly, in a measure, to some degree, severally and individually”. Paul referred to those who “grieved” others, and he reassured the church members they had not “grieved” him.

The verse continues, “that I may not overcharge you all.” Paul added the words, “that I may not” which means “so Paul might in no way” “overcharge you all” or “put a burden upon, load or be burdensome to each, every, the whole and everyone of the church members”. Paul had no desire to be a “burden” to any of the church members.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how he addressed those who “caused sorrow” to others, especially within the church. He was not “grieved” by them, nor was he a “burden” to them. This is how we should be toward one another. Jesus Christ desires to be in a relationship with Him and with each other, and we should never “cause grief” to our brothers and sisters in Christ. As we are inspired by Paul's words and behavior, we should follow his lead and bring “grief” to no one.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “sufficient to such a man is this punishment”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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