This is the reason why he did not wish to come bringing sorrow with him ; ' For if,' says he, ' I make you sorry, who is there to make me glad ? How can I be happy, if you are afflicted ? Unless my visit cause you joy, it can bring no joy to me.' As inspiration leaves full play to all the characteristic peculiarities of its subject, in reading the writings of inspired men we learn not only the mind of the Spirit, but also the personal character of the writers. The urbanity of the apostle Paul, his refinement and courtesy, are just as plainly revealed in his epistles as his intellectual power and moral courage. The passage before us is one of many illustrations of the truth of this remark, furnished by this epistle. Who is he that maJceth me glad^ but the same that is made sorry by me. The singular is used, not because a particular individual, much less because the incestuous person, is specially referred to, but be- cause the case is stated in the form of a general proposition. 'I cannot expect joy from one to whom I bring sorrow.' Such was the apostle's love for the Corinthians that unless they were happy he could not be happy. This is the natural and commonly received interpretation of the passage. Chry- sostom, and many of the ancient commentators, and some also of the moderns, give a different view of its meaning. ' Who gives me joy, but he who allows himself (A.t)7roi;/xevos as middle and not passive) to be grieved by me.' That is, no one causes me so much joy as he who is brought to repentance by me. But this is obviously inconsistent with the context. The verse, as thus explained, gives no reason why Paul did not wish to go to Corinth bringing sorrow. On the contrary, the more of that kind of sorrow he brought with him, or was oc- casioned by his visit, the better. This interpretation would make the apostle say, ' I will not come with sorrow, for noth- ing gives me so much pleasure as to cause (godly) sorrow.' To avoid this incongruity Olshausen says the connection is to be thus understood : Paul determined that he would not come with sorrow, because he feared that few of the Corinthians would give him the happiness of seeing that they had been made sorry by his former reproofs. But this makes the pas- sage itself a reproof, an insinuation that they had not profited by his first letter. This is contrary to the whole spirit of the passage, which is overflowing with confidence and affection.
3. And I wrote tliis same unto you, lest, when I
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