John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 7:12

"So although I wrote unto you, I [wrote] not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God." — 2 Corinthians 7:12 (ASV)

Wherefore if I wrote. He acts as people who desire reconciliation are accustomed to do. He wishes all past things to be buried; he does not reproach them anymore, he does not reprove them for anything, he does not argue about anything. In short, he forgets everything, since he was satisfied with their simple repentance. And certainly, this is the right way—not to press offenders further when they have been brought to repentance.

For if we still recall their sins (1 Kings 17:18), it is certain that we are motivated by ill will, rather than by godly affection or a desire for their welfare. These things, however, are said by Paul as a concession. For, undoubtedly, he had addressed the offense he had taken and had desired that the author of this offense should be disciplined, but now he overlooks what had been somewhat offensive.

He essentially says, “I am now desirous that whatever I have written may be regarded as written with no other purpose than that you might realize your affection for me. As to all other things, let us now leave them as they are.” Others explain it in this way: that he did not focus on one particular individual but considered the common good of all. The former interpretation, however, is the more natural one.

Your concern for us. As this reading occurs widely in the Greek versions, I have not dared to erase it. However, one ancient manuscript has the reading ἡμῶν, (of us,). Furthermore, it appears from Chrysostom's Commentaries that the Latin rendering—that our concern for you might be revealed to you—was more commonly accepted in his time, even among the Greeks. This rendering means that it would be clear to the Corinthians how much Paul was concerned for them.

The other rendering, however, in which the majority of Greek manuscripts agree, is nevertheless a probable one. For Paul congratulates the Corinthians on their having at last learned, through this test, how they felt toward him. He suggests, “You were not yourselves aware of the attachment that you felt toward me, until you had experience of it in this matter.” Others explain it as referring to individual disposition, in this way: “That it might be clear among you how much respect each of you had for me, and that, through this opportunity, each of you might discover what had previously been concealed in his heart.”

As this is not very important, my readers are free, as far as I am concerned, to choose either. But, since Paul adds at the same time, in the sight of God, I am more inclined to think he meant this: that each of them, having searched thoroughly as if he had come into God's presence, had come to know himself better than before.