Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:7

"so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow." — 2 Corinthians 2:7 (ASV)

Instead of continuing or increasing the punishment, the Corinthians ought to rescue the man from inordinate grief and complete his reformation by forgiving and encouraging him and by publicly reaffirming their love for him. This would serve to assure the wrongdoer that God had, in fact, forgiven him (cf. “binding” and “loosing” in Mt 16:19; 18:18). Such a positive Corinthian response to this plea would afford Paul further evidence of the church’s willingness to acknowledge his divinely given authority. By reproving the offender after hearing the “severe letter,” they had already stood the test and proved their loyalty to the apostle in all respects (cf. 7:11–12). Now by ending the punishment, they would be doing the same.