Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:4

"For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly unto you." — 2 Corinthians 2:4 (ASV)

For out of much affliction. Possibly Paul's enemies had charged him with being harsh and overbearing. They may have said that there was much needless severity in his letter. He here addresses that, and says that it was with much pain and many tears that he was constrained to write as he did. He was pained at their conduct and at the necessity that existed for such an epistle. This is an eminently beautiful instance of Paul's kindness of heart and his susceptibility to tender impressions. The evil conduct of others gives pain to a good person; and the necessity of administering reproof and discipline is often as painful to the one who does it as it is to those who are the subjects of it.

And anguish of heart. The word rendered "anguish" (sunochē) means, properly, a holding together or shutting up; and then pressure, distress, anguish—an affliction of the heart by which one feels tightened or constrained, such a pressure as great grief causes at the heart.

I wrote to you with many tears. With much weeping and grief that I was constrained to write such a letter. This was an instance of Paul's great tenderness of heart—a trait of character which he uniformly demonstrated.

With all his strength of mind, and all his courage and readiness to face danger, Paul was not ashamed to weep, especially if he had any occasion for censuring his Christian brothers or administering discipline (Acts 20:31).

This is also an example of the manner in which Paul addressed the faults of his Christian brothers. It was not with bitter denunciation. It was not with sarcasm and ridicule. It was not by publicizing those faults to others. It was not with a spirit of rejoicing that they had committed errors and had been guilty of sin. It was not as if he was glad of the opportunity to administer rebuke and took pleasure in denunciation and in the language of reproof.

All this is often done by others, but Paul pursued a different course. He sent an affectionate letter to the offenders themselves, and he did it with many tears. IT WAS DONE WEEPING.

Admonition would always be done right if it was done with tears. Discipline would always be right and would be effectual if it were administered with tears.

Anyone will receive an admonition kindly if the one who administers it does it weeping; and the heart of an offender will be melted if the one who attempts to reprove him comes to him with tears.

How happy it would be if all who attempt to reprove would do it with Paul's spirit! How happy if all discipline would be administered in the church in his manner!

But, we may add, how seldom is this done! How few there are who feel themselves called upon to reprove an offending brother, or to charge a brother with heresy or crime, who do it with tears!

Not that you should be grieved. It was not my object to give you pain.

But that you might know the love, etc. This was one of the best proofs of his great love to them which he could possibly give. It is proof of genuine friendship for another when we faithfully and affectionately admonish him of the error of his course; it is the highest proof of affection when we do it with tears. It is cruelty to allow a brother to remain in sin unadmonished; it is cruel to admonish him of it in a harsh, severe, and authoritative tone; but it is proof of tender attachment when we go to him with tears and entreat him to repent and reform. No one gives higher proof of attachment to another than the one who affectionately admonishes him of his sin and danger.