Grief, distress, and anguish, especially grief, are repeated ten times in the first ten verses, all deriving from the Greek noun “lype” (a transliteration), referring to deep emotional pain. Contrasting “lype” are forgiveness, joy, comfort, and love; together they are stated twelve times.
One man’s sin in the Corinthian congregation led to grief, distress, and anguish, not just for the man when punished, but also for the congregation and Paul. The majority inflicted punishment, likely excommunication, at Paul’s direction. The man was grieved and repented. He received forgiveness and was invited back into the fellowship. Without grieving, usually the result of punishment, there is no forgiveness. As the psalmist wrote, “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)
Apostle John wrote, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:5-10)
