John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:5

"But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all." — 2 Corinthians 2:5 (ASV)

But if any one. Here is a third reason to alleviate the offense — that he had grief in common with them, and that the cause of it came from another source. “We have,” he says, “been equally grieved, and another is to blame for it.” At the same time, he speaks of that person, too, somewhat mildly when he says, if any one — not affirming the matter, but rather leaving it in suspense.

This passage, however, is understood by some as if Paul meant to say: “He who has caused me grief, has given offense to you also; for you should have felt grieved along with me, and yet I have been left almost to grieve alone. For I do not wish to say so absolutely — that I may not put the blame upon you all.” In this way, the second clause would contain a correction of the first.

Chrysostom’s interpretation, however, is much more suitable; for he reads it as one continuous sentence — “He has not grieved me alone, but almost all of you. And as to my saying in part, I do so so that I do not bear too hard upon him.” I differ from Chrysostom merely in the clause in part, for I understand it as meaning in some measure. I am aware that Ambrose understands it as meaning — part of the saints, since the Church of the Corinthians was divided; but that is more ingenious than solid.