The Dual Nature of Christ's Presence and the Purpose of Knowing Satan's Schemes

He appears to have been present with them, passing through Macedonia and turning back again from there to see them, so that he might again rejoice seeing them being helped; for it appears through the words, before the writing of both the letters to them, that he was in Corinth. The same is demonstrated by the statement: 'because I was sparing you, I did not yet come to Corinth' (2 Cor 1:23).

Knowing what was said by the Savior in the promise concerning the not needing to swear, but having an unsearchable word regarding the yes as being yes, and the no as being thus, he seems to be confirming himself here by swearing. And most rightly; for he announces the intention he had toward the Corinthians, and this exists in thought and heart; and since it was likely that those he loved would waver concerning the genuineness of the love toward them, he calls God as witness of the things said upon his own soul, standing over the things lying in secret. For he says: 'I am coming to you desiring you, and when I do not do this, I again spare my concern toward you; for you know that having come previously to your city, I spent a whole year and six months staying there, rejoicing in seeing you advancing daily in the benefit according to Christ. For I certainly laid before you the common teaching and the mystical traditions; for I made this clear in the letter before this one, urging you to hold fast to what you received. And since now I am precisely convinced that certain false teachers are deceiving, setting aside the resurrection from the dead and the abiding of the soul, and moreover turning away the knowledge concerning the indifferent, for this reason I refrained now, so that a certain healing through letters might be available to stay with you. And these things I am writing not as one proclaiming himself master of your faith—for we are working together toward your believing—and since from our instruction you have come to faith, just as we taught, so also we remind you, so that you may remain in the faith in which you achieved success; even if some were struck away by the deceivers, nevertheless I am confident that you have stood in the faith in which you received it, being firm in it.'

He says, 'My joy is the joy of all of you through the good report, and declaring that before it, I say truly that my sorrow is the sorrow of all of you (2 Cor 2:3-4); for it was necessary to sadden...'

He rejoices with the apostle to sympathize with the Corinthians, so that those rejoicing may rejoice together. Because I write these things from a sincere disposition, he says, know that through much affliction and pressure of heart, through many tears, the letter is being dictated. For I did not desire to subject you to such rebukes, but rather proofs concerning the dogmas of truth and reminders, and rather an exhortation toward perfect virtue.

This has a dual meaning in the one in the face of Christ (2 Cor 2:10-11). For it is shown either in the face, that is, before and seeing Christ, but also in bearing the face of Christ, having been forgiven, knowing that He Himself, judging that all things for blessedness should be granted, has arrived in life. Therefore, bearing the face—for I desire to imitate Him and to be conformed to Him—I consented to the sin of the one who repented; whence also I am encouraged to be of that opinion. For one must not be ignorant of the wiles of Satan, who, as in former times when fornication was occurring, wished to increase the harm, he was arranging the unfeeling state, so that the one caught in evil would not mourn; but now he has persuaded that there should be compassion toward the one ceasing from evil, so that through this he might also destroy you, the arrogant and the proud, against him. But see, lest anyone, awaiting the will of the apostle, should have the knowledge of satanic thoughts be a vain glory—for such a thing is most harmful, but rather beneficial—for knowing the thought and the choice does not do evil, but rather the choosing does. Therefore, do not neglect also those who are choosing to expose the deceivers, knowing the things of their deception; we are not rebuked, but rather we fully accept them; for it is not the knowing, but the choosing, that makes bad things evil. We know, therefore, the thoughts of Satan, not so that we may act according to them, but so that, not being deceived, we may not be ensnared.

It happened to him that the transition from Troas to Macedonia was through a vision (Acts 16:9). For in the writing of the Acts of the Apostles it is said that truly a Macedonian man was shown to him in Troas by way of revelation, commanding: 'Having crossed into Macedonia, help us.' He fell silent, writing this letter, having tested with the moderation of judgment whether it was not opportune to say such things about himself, as in the...