Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:1

"But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow." — 2 Corinthians 2:1 (ASV)

In answering this charge, Paul solemnly invokes his faithful God (cf. 1:18) as his own witness to the truth of statements like these: “The reason I postponed my intended visit to Corinth was to spare you a second painful visit (1:23b; 2:1). So far from being unstable in my desires, I have the settled purpose of promoting your highest good and joy (1:24) and of saving you unnecessary pain or sorrow.” That is, Paul wanted to spare the Corinthians and himself further pain by not returning to Corinth from Ephesus after the so-called “painful visit.” “I made up my mind” (2:1) refers to a decision Paul made at Ephesus after hearing of the insult hurled at him or one of his deputies at Corinth by “the one who did wrong” of 7:1 .

He resolved to pay the Corinthians a visit by this letter (2:3–4; 7:8, 12) rather than by another personal visit that might have proved mutually painful.

For Paul to speak of “sparing” (GK 5767) the Corinthians (v.23) implied that he might have punished them. He therefore proceeds in 1:24, which is parenthetical, to reject the inference—probably also an actual Corinthian charge —that he was some tyrannical overlord, seeking to intimidate and domineer in matters of faith and conduct. An apostle was obligated to serve his converts, not dominate them. It was his privilege to work with them to secure their “joy in the faith” , not to lord it over them by causing them unnecessary pain.