I.e., plans, plots, devices, designs, wiles, intentions, purposes.

In addition to what he mentioned in vv. 10-11, the apostle also told the Corinthian believers of his concern for them. Although in Troas a door had been opened to him, even in the Lord, he had no rest in his spirit when he did not find Titus, whom he was anxious to meet to gain information concerning the effect of his first Epistle among the Corinthians. Then he left Troas and went forth to Macedonia (v. 13), being anxious to meet Titus to obtain the information. This showed his great affection for the Corinthians. His concern for the church was much greater than his concern for the preaching of the gospel.

Or, by the Lord; i.e., not by human effort.

This indicates that the apostle was one who lived and acted in his spirit, as indicated in 1 Cor. 16:18.

This Epistle was written in Macedonia after Paul's stay in Ephesus on the third journey of his ministry (2 Cor. 8:1; Acts 20:1).

This discloses that the evil one, Satan, is behind the scenes in everything and works in everything.

Lit., face; as in 2 Cor. 4:6. The part around the eyes; the look as the index of the inward thoughts and feelings, which shows forth and manifests the whole person. This indicates that the apostle was one who lived and acted in the presence of Christ, according to the index of His whole person, expressed in His eyes. The first section, 2 Cor. 1:1-24; 2:1-11, is a long introduction to this Epistle, which follows the apostle's first Epistle to the disorderly believers in Corinth. After receiving information that they had repented (2 Cor. 7:6-13) through their accepting of his rebukes in the first Epistle, he was comforted and encouraged. Thus, he wrote this Epistle to comfort and encourage them in a very personal, tender, and affectionate way, in such a way that this Epistle can be considered to some extent his autobiography. In it we see a person who lived Christ according to what he wrote concerning Him in his first Epistle, in the closest and most intimate contact with Him, acting according to the index of His eyes; a person who was one with Christ, full of Christ, and saturated with Christ; a person who was broken and even terminated in his natural life, softened and flexible in his will, affectionate yet restricted in his emotion, considerate and sober in his mind, and pure and genuine in his spirit toward the believers for their benefit, that they might experience and enjoy Christ as he did for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose in the building up of Christ's Body.

Or, dealt graciously with.

Or, deal graciously with.

Or, tested character.

Know your approvedness means put you to the test.

I.e., formally prove by sure evidence.

Or, deal graciously with.

I.e., apply pressure too heavily, press too heavily, say too much. The apostle said here that the offender caused in part all the church to sorrow. He said "in part" lest he press too heavily, lest he say too much. This indicates that he was a tender, cautious, and considerate person.

In the first Epistle.

The same Greek word as for judged.

"The verb here used ... means to lead a man as a captive in a triumphal procession; the full phrase means, to lead captive in a triumph over the enemies of Christ. ... God is celebrating His triumph over His enemies; Paul (who had been so great an opponent of the gospel) is a captive following in the train of the triumphal procession, yet (at the same time, by a characteristic change of metaphor) an incense-bearer, scattering incense (which was always done on these occasions) as the procession moves on. Some of the conquered enemies were put to death when the procession reached the Capitol; to them the smell of the incense was `an odor of death unto death'; to the rest who were spared, `an odor of life unto life' " (Conybeare). (The same metaphor is used in Col. 2:15.) God always leads the apostles in such a triumphant way for their ministry.

In the second section of this Epistle, 2:12—7:16, the apostle spoke about his and his co-workers' ministry. He first likened their ministry to a celebration of Christ's victory. Their move in their ministry for Christ was like a triumphal procession going from one place to another under God's leading. He and his co-workers were Christ's captives, bearing the fragrant incense of Christ, for His triumphant glory. They had been conquered by Christ and had become His captives in the train of His triumph, scattering the fragrance of Christ from place to place. This was their ministry for Him.

As conquered and captured captives in the train of Christ's triumph, celebrating and participating in Christ's triumph. The apostles were such captives; their move as captives of Christ in their ministry for Him was God's celebration of Christ's victory over His enemies.

See note 2 Cor. 1:5².

"According to the Greek usage, savor and knowledge are in apposition, so that the knowledge of Christ is symbolized as an odor communicating its nature and efficacy through the apostle's work" (Vincent).

As incense-bearers, scattering the savor of the knowledge of Christ in His triumphant ministry as in a triumphal procession. The apostles were incense-bearers in the ministry of Christ as well as captives in the train of His triumph.

The apostles, being permeated with Christ, became a fragrance of Christ. They were not merely a sweet savor produced by Christ, but Christ Himself was the savor being exhaled in their life and work to God, both in those who were being saved, as a savor out of life unto life, and in those who were perishing, as a savor out of death unto death.

I.e., resulting in death ... resulting in life. Referring to the effect of the apostles' ministry in two different aspects on different persons. It is a matter of life and death! Only the captives of God in Christ, who are saturated with Christ by the Spirit, are sufficient and qualified for this (2 Cor. 3:5-6).

Or, competent, qualified, fit, worthy. The same Greek word as in 2 Cor. 3:5.

The Greek word means retailing, hawking. Originally, it referred to the selling of inferior items at high prices in a tricky way by peddlers who were of low class. Many engaged in this kind of hawking, adulterating the word of God for their profit, but the apostles did not. Out of sincerity and out of God in their ministry, they spoke in Christ the word of God in the sight of God. How sincere and genuine were the apostles in their ministry!

I.e., minister the word of God.