2 Corinthians 2:4

“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, etc..] Being greatly pressed in his spirit, and grieved at his heart, for the abominable iniquities among them, which they seemed to take no notice of, and to be unconcerned about, yea, rather to be puffed up with: I wrote to you with many tears; as signs and expressions of, and by which were vented, the inward anguish and distress of his soul; and the letter he sent to them in some measure bore witness to it: which was written, not that you should be grieved; that is, not merely for the sake of grieving of them, in which he took no pleasure; not but that the apostle designed and desired to affect their minds with a holy grief and godly sorrow…”

“So far from my change of purpose being due to "lightness" (Co2 1:17), I wrote my letter to you (Co2 2:3) "out of much affliction (Greek, 'trouble') and anguish of heart, and with many tears." not that ye should be grieved--Translate, "be made sorry," to accord with the translation, Co2 2:2. My ultimate and main object was, "not that ye might be made sorry," but that through sorrow you might be led to repentance, and so to joy, redounding both to you and me (Co2 2:2-3). I made you sorry before going to you, that when I went it might not be necessary. He is easily made sorry, who is admonished by a friend himself weeping [BENGEL]. that ye might know the love--of which it is a proof to rebuke…”

“For out of much affliction - Possibly Paul’s enemies had charged him with being harsh and overbearing. They may have said that there was much needless severity in his letter. He here meets that, and says, that it was with much pain and many tears that he was constrained to write as he did. He was pained at their conduct, and at the necessity which existed for such an epistle. This is an eminently beautiful instance of Paul’s kindness of heart, and his susceptibility to tender impressions. The evil conduct of others gives pain to a good man; and the necessity of administering reproof and discipline is often as painful to him who does it, as it is to those who are the subjects of it. And…”

“From much anguish I wrote to you, not so much that ye might be grieved, as that ye might know by my faithful admonition my abundant love toward you. 2 Corinthians 2:5”

“out: Lev 19:17, Lev 19:18; Psa 119:136; Pro 27:5, Pro 27:6; Jer 13:15-17; Luk 19:41-44; Rom 9:2, Rom 9:3; Phi 3:18 not: Co2 7:8, Co2 7:9, Co2 7:12, Co2 12:15, that you might, Co2 11:2 2 Corinthians 2:5”