Therefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause who had done the wrong, nor for his cause who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul is making it clear that forgiveness ought to be granted to those who did wrong not only for their sake but for the sake of the church, because when one does wrong many suffer. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
Though I wrote unto you, I did it not, &c. He who suffered wrong was the father whose wife the incestuous man had taken to himself. Hence it is evident that the father was alive. The Apostle says in effect: In the former Epistle I wrote somewhat sharply, but I did not mean to avenge the private injuries done by the incestuous person and suffered by the father; but I wished to show the care that I have for the common salvation of your Church, by expelling from it this public scandal.
I wrote to you not on the account That is, not only on his account, or the account of his father, who suffered the injury, (by which his father seems to have been then alive) but also to demonstrate the care and solicitude I have for you. I was also overjoyed to find that Titus was so well received by you, with fear and trembling, that is, with so great respect, and submission to him. (Witham)
3. So although I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong. For that they might not say, Why then do you rebuke us if we were clear in the matter? setting himself to meet this even further above, and disposing of it beforehand , he said what he said, namely, I do not regret, though I did regret. 'For so far,' says he, 'am I from repenting now of what I wrote then, that I repented then more than I do now when you have approved yourselves.' Do you see again his vehemence and earnest contention, how he has turned around what was said unto the very opposite. For what they thought would have made him recant in confusion as having rebuked them hastily, by reason of their amendment; that he uses as a proof that it was right in him to speak freely. For neither does he refuse afterwards to humor them fearlessly, when he finds he can do this. For he that said farther above such things as these, He that is joined to an harlot is one bo...
