What does 2 Corinthians 2:6 show about how the Corinthian church dealt with the sinful man?
2 Corinthians 2:6 shows the Corinthian church took corporate action against the sinful man: the majority inflicted a sufficient punishment or dealing with him, aiming to get him to straighten up, even though a minority objected. The punishment was church discipline, not loss of salvation, and was later to be replaced by forgiveness and confirmed love.
Les explains that 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 follows up the man just discussed in 1 Corinthians 5. The punishment or dealing was inflicted by the majority, showing the church had evidently taken corporate action and voted to deal with this man to get him to straighten up his act, even though there was a minority that likely said to leave him alone. Paul did not put this saved individual lost again; he was in dire straits because he was living in gross immorality, but the church was just as guilty if it did nothing. Then verse 7 says, on the other hand, they ought rather to forgive him, lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, and confirm their love toward him. Les notes this is not the attitude most would take, but it is what believers are supposed to do even today.
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
More Questions
Was there disagreement in the Corinthian church about disciplining the immoral man?
A minority in the congregation likely opposed the discipline, saying to leave the man alone on the reasoning that people are people.