Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians
— 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 exposition, however, is much more suitable; for he reads it as one continued sentence — "He hath not grieved me alone, but almost all of you. And as to my saying in part, I do so in order that I may not bear too hard upon him." 1214 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, inasmuch as the Church of the Corinthians was divided; but that is more ingenious than solid.
2 Corinthians 2:6-11
2 Corinthians 2:6-11 6. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
6. Sufficit ei, qui talis est, correctio, quae illi contigit a pluribus. 7. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
7. Ut potius e diverso debeatis condonare, et consolari: ne forte abundantiori tristitia absorbeatur, qui eiusmodi est.
8. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 8. Quamobrem obsecro vos, ut confirmetis erga eum caritatem. 9. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
9. Nam in hoc etiam scripseram vobis, ut probationem vestri cognoscerem: an ad omnia obedientes sitis.
10. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
10. Cui autem condonatis, etiam ego: etenim cui condonavi, si quid condonavi, propter vos condonavi in conspectu Christi.
11. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
11. Ut ne occupemur a Satana: non enim cogitationes eius ignoramus. 6. Sufficient. He now extends kindness even to the man who had sinned more grievously than the others, and on whose account his anger had been kindled against them all, inasmuch as they had connived at his crime. In his showing indulgence even to one who was deserving of severer punishment, the Corinthians have a striking instance to convince them, how much he disliked excessive harshness. It is true, that he does not act this part merely
1214"The words may be rendered: 'But if any one (meaning the incestuous person) have occasioned sorrow, he hath not so much grieved me, as, in some measure (that I may not bear too hard upon him) all of you {᾿Επιβαρῶ῎῝}8217; must, with the Syr. version and Emmerling, be taken intransitively, in the sense --- `ne quid gravius dicam,' (that I may not say anything too severe,) i.e., `ne dicam nos solos,' (that I may not say --- us alone.) Of this sense of {ἐπιβαρεῖν} {τινι}, to bear hard upon, two examples are adduced by Wetstein from Appian.'' --- Bloomfield. --- Ed.