But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
Read Chapter 2
Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul was afraid that if he rebuked a few he would cause pain to many, because all the members of a body suffer when one of them is in pain. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
s12 , 13.—Furthermore, when I came to Troas . . . I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother. S. Jerome (ad Hedibiam) says that Titus was S. Paul"s interpreter, and explained the sublime truths taught by him in Greek worthy of the subject. There was, too, another reason why Paul went to Troas to meet Titus , viz, that he was anxious to hear from Titus , whom he had sent to Corinth, the state of the Church there, before he himself fulfilled his promise of returning thither. Hence, in chap. vii6 , he says that he had been comforted in Macedonia by the arrival of Titus , who brought him word of the sorrow of the Corinthians and of their desire to see him. Titus , however, seems to have reported to Paul that the time was not yet ripe for his return to Corinth. Paul, therefore, postponed his visit to Corinth, and sent on this letter to pave the way for him, to and correct the failings of the Corinthians.
SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER
i. He declares that he had not come to them through fear of causing sadness to himself and to them.
ii. He exhorts them (ver6) to Revelation -admit the fornicator, on his repentance, who had been excommunicated by him (1Cor. v.), and (ver10) he absolves him from the sentence of excommunication and from his penance.
iii. He tells them (ver14) that he sheds everywhere a good odour of Christ, which is life to the good and faithful, and death to the evil and unbelieving.
St. Paul continues to justify his not coming to them as he promised. He told them that he did not wish to domineer over their faith, but that his whole design was to contribute to their joy, and that he did not wish to visit them as long as any thing remained worthy of correction, lest his presence should only increase their sorrow. And if in his former epistle he made use of strong expressions, it was not through any design to make them sad, but merely to correct them, by which he manifested his great charity for them. (Calmet)
2. For if I make you sorry, who then is he that makes me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?
What is this consequence? A very just one indeed. For observe, I would not, he says, come unto you, lest I should increase your sorrow, rebuking, showing anger and disgust. Then seeing that even this was strong and implied accusation that they so lived as to make Paul sorry, he applies a corrective in the words, For if I make you sorry, who then is he that makes me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?
What he says is of this kind. 'Even though I were to be in sorrow, being compelled to rebuke you and to see you sorry, still nevertheless this very thing would have made me glad. For this is a proof of the greatest love, that you hold me in such esteem as to be hurt at my being displeased with you.'
Behold too his prudence. Their doing what all disciples do, namely, smarting and feeling it when rebuked, he produces as an instance of their gratifying him; for, says he, 'No man makes m...
