Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:12
Verse 12. Not for his cause that had done the wrong] viz. the incestuous person. Nor for his cause that suffered wrong] Some think the apostle means himself; others, that he means the Church at Corinth, the singular being put for the plural; others, the family of the incestuous person; and others, the father of the incestuous person. If this latter opinion be adopted, it would seem to intimate that the father of this person was yet alive, which would make the transgression more flagrant; but these words might be spoken in reference to the father, if dead, whose cause should be vindicated; as his injured honour might be considered, like Hebel's blood, to be crying from the earth.
But that our care for you-might appear] It was not to get the delinquent punished, nor merely to do justice to those who had suffered in this business, that the apostle wrote his epistle to them, but that they might have the fullest proof of his fatherly affection for them, and his concern for the honour of God; and that they might thereby see how unnatural their opposition to him was, and what cause they had to prefer him, who was ready to give up his life in their service, to that false apostle or teacher who was corrupting their minds, leading them from the simplicity of the truth, and making a gain of them.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. Wherefore, though l wrote unto you , etc..] Meaning in his former epistle, with so much sharpness and severity, and as may have been thought too much: I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong ; not for the sake of the incestuous person only and chiefly, not merely for his correction and restoration; though these things were intended, and earnestly desired by the apostle: nor for his cause that suffered wrong : that is, the father of the incestuous person, who had been injured by this wicked action; it was not only or merely out of favour and respect to him, and that some compensation should be made to him in a church way, by detesting the crime, casting out the offender, and declaring themselves on the side of the injured person, and against him that had done the injury: but that our care for you, in the sight of God, might appear unto you : some copies, and the Complutensian edition, and the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read, that your care for us, etc.. and then the sense is, that you might have an opportunity of showing your affection for us, your regard to us, how readily you obey us in all things; but the other reading is to be preferred, the meaning of which is, that the apostle in writing did not so much consult and regard the private good of any particular person, either the injurer or the injured, though these were not out of his view; but he wrote in the manner he did, chiefly that it might be manifest what a concern he had for the good and welfare of the whole church; lest that should be corrupted, and receive any damage from such a notorious delinquent being tolerated or connived at among them; and that it was such a care and concern as was real, hearty, and sincere, was well known to God, and for the truth of which he could appeal to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-16 - The apostle was not disappointed concerning them, which he signified to Titus; and he could with joy declare the confidence he had in them for the time to come. Here see the duties of a pastor and of his flock; the latter must lighten the troubles of the pastoral office, by respect an obedience; the former make a due return by his care of them, an cherish the flock by testimonies of satisfaction, joy, and tenderness __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
αρα 686 PRT ει 1487 COND και 2532 CONJ εγραψα 1125 5656 V-AAI-1S υμιν 5213 P-2DP ουχ 3756 PRT-N εινεκεν 1752 ADV του 3588 T-GSM αδικησαντος 91 5660 V-AAP-GSM ουδε 3761 ADV εινεκεν 1752 ADV του 3588 T-GSM αδικηθεντος 91 5685 V-APP-GSM αλλ 235 CONJ εινεκεν 1752 ADV του 3588 T-GSM φανερωθηναι 5319 5683 V-APN την 3588 T-ASF σπουδην 4710 N-ASF {VAR1: υμων 5216 P-2GP } {VAR2: ημων 2257 P-1GP } την 3588 T-ASF υπερ 5228 PREP {VAR1: ημων 2257 P-1GP } {VAR2: υμων 5216 P-2GP } προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP ενωπιον 1799 ADV του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Our care for you (thn spoudhn hmwn thn uper umwn). The correct text reverses the pronouns and reads your care for us. This difficult passage means that while Paul did desire the punishment and reformation of the offender, and the vindication of the wronged party, his main object was that the fidelity and zeal of the Church toward God should be manifested, as it was (ver. 11). This would appear in the manifestation of their zealous interest for him as God's minister. He states this as if it were his only object. Manifest unto you is rather among you (prov), as in ch. i. 12; 1 Cor. xvi. 7.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:12 {But that your earnest care for us might be made manifest} (all' heineken tou fanerwqenai ten spouden humwn ten huper hemwn). So the correct text, not "our care for you." Easy to interchange Greek humwn (your) and hemwn (our). Usual construction with preposition heneken and genitive of articular infinitive with accusative of general reference.
