When reading other people’s mail, you have to figure out what is in the unsaid parts. Here, Paul is continuing to be sad about not coming to Corinth in person, and being forced into corresponding by letter. At the time of writing, he is feeling awful about not keeping his word to visit. As readers, 2000 years later, we would not even have known about these thoughts if he had visited in person because all his words would be lost in the air, unrecorded. His pain is our gain.

Paul’s anguish is tearful, and he is not afraid to either feel his emotions nor express them. If this is Biblical masculinity, perhaps we can learn something here too. His communicated sorrow and joy are both deeply rooted in his love for his fellow believers. Can you truly feel happiness if you bottle up your emotions of anger or pain or regret? By acknowledging the dark feelings, you can deal with them, and make room for the light feelings like joy and cheer and gratitude. Again, we see that Paul’s faith in Jesus is expressed through love for his fellow believers. Remember that before his conversion to Christianity, his religion was practiced through hate and violence, now his message is love.

Paul talks about how his own pain is felt not only by himself, but others in the community. He calls for the community to respond with forgiveness for whomever has caused this suffering. He isn’t naming or condemning any one person or group specifically here. He promises to forgive anyone they’ve forgiven as well. He doesn’t want to be outwitted by Satan. The Devil’s design, according to Paul, is to play believers against each other and cause strife and division. Our weapon against evil is not revenge, but forgiveness.