⁹For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,¹¹so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

If Paul had in mind here the forgiveness of the incestuous offender of 1 Corinthians 5, this passage would be a travesty. Forgiveness can only come from those actually offended, that is, the injured parties, namely the father and (if it was a case of sexual abuse) the stepmother. It is better to see this as a forgiveness for someone who offended the apostle Paul.

We must not miss that this forgiveness is not a superficial waving of a feel-good wand that dismisses the offense. No! There are two very significant truths involved here. First, the offense was of the sort to invoke discipline by the church. Whether the sin of 1 Corinthians 5:1–5, or the list of sins in 1 Corinthians 5:11 (“… an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler …”), or the unspecified offense against the apostle Paul, sin in believers needs to be dealt with firmly and decisively, with excommunication (that is, putting the person out of the fellowship) being the ultimate “tough-love” to bring a person to repentance. Sadly, few churches ever do this.

However, just as many churches are slack in discipline, a church can come short of true, deep forgiveness. This is not a forgiveness that ignores sin. In Paul’s case, he didn’t say, “Hey, it’s not a big deal. No need for forgiveness because I didn’t take offense.” That sounds noble, but it fosters a shallow view of sin and superficial forgiveness.

Genuine repentance goes like this: The offender comes to genuine repentance and says to the person offended, “I have sinned against you and commit to changing my ways. Please forgive me.” The offended person says, in effect, “Yes, you sinned against me, and I was offended. I forgive you genuinely.” Fellowship is restored, for reconciliation has been accomplished. Since Paul was not there at Corinth at the time of writing, he indicates that his forgiveness will be in solidarity with the Corinthian church toward the sinning individual.

Note that Paul sees this issue in a larger context, that of testing the obedience of the church in Corinth concerning both discipline and forgiveness, but also in spiritual warfare terms. Harsh discipline or lack of forgiveness can destroy a church, the body of Christ—which is Satan’s goal, who seeks to devour not only individuals (1 Peter 5:8) but also churches of God’s people.

Father, help us see the need for discipline, repentance, and true forgiveness.