2 Corinthians 2:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore he says: "For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things."

The former act, removing the guilty man from the community, might have seemed an act of hatred and cruelty.

The latter act, receiving him into love, will especially prove the sincerity of obedience and readiness for deeds of love for mankind.

The mark of good disciples is that they obey their teacher not only in his first demand, but also when he commands the opposite of that demand.

Therefore the Apostle said, "in all things." He wished to show that if the Corinthians disobeyed, they would disgrace not so much him as themselves, earning the reputation of the disobedient.

He does this in order to move them to obedience by this also. Therefore he says, "For to this end I also wrote to you."

Though he did not write for this reason, since his chief aim was the salvation of the sinner, he nevertheless says "for this reason" to dispose them more in favor of the guilty man.

Yet by this he neither harms himself in attaining the chief aim, nor fails to show grace to the Corinthians.

By the words "in all things" he reminds them of their first obedience and sets it before them here, intending to praise them.

Chrysostom says: "That I may know, he says, whether you are obedient. That is, not only in cutting off the guilty man from the believers, but also in joining him to them.

Do you see how here also the Apostle places the Corinthians under necessity of resolving upon this struggle?

When the guilty man sinned, the Apostle showed them how dangerous it would be for them if they did not cut him off.

He said that 'a little leaven leavens the whole lump' (1 Cor 5:6), and much else.

Likewise here also he sets before them the whole danger of disobedience. He says almost this: as before I had to care not only for the guilty man, but also for you, so now also.

I care not more for him than for you, lest someone regard you as stubborn, inhuman, and not obedient in all things.

For the removal of the guilty man from your society might have seemed to some an act of hatred and cruelty.

On the contrary, receiving him into your love will especially prove the sincerity of your obedience, and also your readiness and capacity for deeds of love for mankind.

For good and intelligent disciples obey their teacher not only in his first demand, but also in another, even if he commands something opposite to the first demand.

Therefore the Apostle said, 'in all things,' to show that if the Corinthians disobeyed, they would disgrace not so much him as themselves, earning the reputation of the disobedient.

He does this to move them to obedience by this also, as these words show: 'For to this end I also wrote to you.'

Though the Apostle did not write for this reason, since his chief aim was the salvation of the sinner, he still says, 'for this reason,' to dispose the Corinthians still more in favor of the guilty man.

Yet he neither harms himself in attaining the chief aim, nor fails to be gracious toward the Corinthians.

By saying 'in all things,' he reminds them of their first obedience and sets it before them here, intending to praise them.

Through praise for their former obedience, he disposes them toward the new obedience."