Yes — despite the Corinthians' accusations, Paul expressed deep love, heartbreak, and care for them, choosing encouragement over condemnation.
Even though the Corinthians made snide remarks and attacked Paul's apostleship, Les Feldick shows from 2 Corinthians that Paul was heartbroken rather than vengeful. Paul backed into their problems so as not to provoke their anger, and by the second letter he was encouraging and boasting about them. His whole ministry to them was constrained by the love of Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:4 — Paul explains that his severe letter was written with tears and anguish of heart so the Corinthians would know his abundant love.
2 Corinthians 6:11 — Paul opens his heart to the Corinthians, showing that his affection for them was genuine despite their accusations.
In 2 Corinthians 2:4, Paul tells the Corinthians that he wrote his previous letter with much affliction and anguish of heart and many tears — not to grieve them, but so they would know the love he had more abundantly toward them. In 2 Corinthians 6:11 he again opens his heart: 'O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.' These passages show that Paul's correction of the Corinthians was rooted in genuine affection, not personal resentment.
Les Feldick explains that the Corinthians were making snide remarks and attacking Paul's apostleship, and Paul was heartbroken by some of the things spoken about him (Clip 3). But instead of retaliating, Paul was too kind to outright condemn them; he backed into their problems so he would not flare up their anger, while still refusing to agree with their carnal behavior (Clip 1). By the time of 2 Corinthians, Paul was no longer condemning them — he was encouraging, exhorting, and boasting about them to the churches in Achaia and Macedonia (Clip 5). His motivation throughout was the love of Christ constraining him (Clip 2).
Les Feldick describes how the Corinthians were making snide remarks and attacking the apostle personally. Paul, like any of us, was heartbroken by things being spoken about him. This is why he had to defend his apostleship — first in 1 Corinthians and again in 2 Corinthians.
Paul was too kind to just outwardly condemn the Corinthians, but he was not going to agree with their carnal behavior. Les shows that Paul backed into the situation to avoid flaring up their anger. In 2 Corinthians, his tone shifts: he encourages, exhorts, and boasts about the Corinthians to other churches throughout Achaia and Macedonia.
Les teaches that Paul was here for the love of Christ — that love constrained him. It was not fickle language or personal ambition; it was the love of Christ that enabled Paul to endure privation after privation and the accusation that he was not bringing the truth.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:4 that he wrote out of much affliction and anguish of heart, with many tears, not to grieve the Corinthians but so they would know the love he had more abundantly toward them. He also told them, 'Our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged' (2 Corinthians 6:11). These are the words of a man who cared deeply, even after being accused.
Background of Second Corinthians
Les reminds that 1 Corinthians dressed the church down, and 2 Corinthians is the follow-up, setting the context for Paul's tone and feelings.
Paul's Gentle Approach
Les shows Paul is too kind to outright condemn the Corinthians, so he backs into the issues to avoid flaring their anger.
Love of Christ as Motivation
Les explains Paul was constrained by the love of Christ, which enabled him to endure accusations and privations.
Heartbroken by Snide Remarks
Les says the Corinthians were making snide remarks and attacking Paul's apostleship, and Paul was heartbroken by things spoken about him.
Defending His Apostleship
Les points out Paul had to defend his apostleship throughout his letters because of the problems and accusations in Corinth.
A Changed, Encouraging Tone
Les teaches that in 2 Corinthians Paul shifts from condemning to encouraging, exhorting, and boasting about the Corinthians.
Accusations About His Letters
Les explains that Paul heard the rumors that his letters were meant to terrify them, showing the accusations came right back to him.
What the Bible Really Says About Judging Other Christians
As I mentioned a couple of programs ago, Paul is addressing them in response to a letter that they had written to him asking, how are they supposed to deal with these things? And consequently, by Holy Spirit inspiration, Paul is just unloading. And of course the reason is that the things that were a problem in Corinth in A.D. 60 are still the same.
2 Corinthians 2:4: For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
Paul's tender explanation that his painful letter came from love, not anger.
2 Corinthians 6:11: O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Paul's affectionate appeal to the Corinthians, showing his genuine care for them.
No. Les Feldick shows that Paul was heartbroken by the snide remarks but still expressed deep love. He was too kind to condemn them and in 2 Corinthians he encouraged and boasted about them, motivated by the love of Christ.
Paul did deal firmly with their problems in 1 Corinthians, but he was not simply angry. Les explains that Paul backed into the situation to avoid flaring up their anger, and by the second letter he was no longer condemning but encouraging them.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul was constrained by the love of Christ. That love motivated him to suffer privations and accusations while still caring for the believers at Corinth.
Watch the Teaching: Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow — 2 Corinthians 7:10 Explained