Homilies on Second Corinthians

“Not for that we have lordship over your faith.”

That is, I did not therefore say, “To spare you I came not,” as lording it over you. Again, he said not you, but “your faith,” which was at once gentler and truer. For him that has no mind to believe, who has power to compel?

“But are helpers of your joy.”

For since, says he, your joy is ours, I came not, that I might not plunge you into sorrow and increase my own despondency; but I stayed away that you being reformed by the threat might be made glad. For we do every thing in order to your joy, and give diligence in this behalf, because we are ourselves partakers of it. “For by faith you stand.”

Behold him again speaking repressedly. For he was afraid to rebuke them again; since he had handled them severely in the former Epistle, and they had made some reformation. And if, now that they were reformed, they again received the same reproof, this was likely to throw them back. Whence this Epistle is much gentler than the former.