Transcript Today’s Bible Translation 2 Corinthians 1-3: Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-2 GWT; Ch.3 NIRV Podcast Introduction This is Epistles Sunday, and we’ll read 2 Corinthians 1-3. I’m calling this episode “What Is Forgiveness?” Design: Scott Snyder | Photo: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash Comments on 2 Corinthians 1-3 Beloved, I have some news for you that you might find shocking. It might completely alter your world view. Maybe you should sit down. Ok. Take a deep breath. Brace yourself.  You need to know that the church (and I’m not referring to one specific local church or even a denomination, I’m talking about all of the church, which is made up of all the believers) is made up of imperfect people. Oh. You knew that? Of course you did, because you know that whenever people are involved, there will be difficulties. People mess up. Sometimes there are what might be considered minor infractions and sometimes there will be major sins. Not really surprising, is it? Do you remember back in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul addressed a major sin that was happening there in the church at Corinth. There was a man who was married to his father’s wife. It was an incestuous relationship, and Paul chastised them for not dealing properly with the sin. In fact, they were not dealing with it at all. Paul even said that they were being arrogant about it. Accepting of it. He told them that they should remove the man from their fellowship. He said, “… hand such a person over to Satan to destroy his corrupt nature so that his spiritual nature may be saved on the day of the Lord.” Do you remember that? Ok. Good. Are you aware that we Christians sometimes do that today? Thing is, as far as I know, it rarely happens in local churches. You know where it happens quite often? When a prominent, well known Christian’s sins become known. Then we ostracize him or her. We destroy them. We cast them out.  Since I started podcasting, I have been blessed to have gotten to know several Christian recording artists pretty well. And I have heard more than once how this person or that person lost a career because the church found out about a sin in their life.  You say, “Well, Steve. Isn’t that what Paul told the Corinthians to do? Isn’t that the Biblical thing to do?” Let’s take a look at chapter two from our reading today. In the first four verses, Paul reminds them of the fact that he told them that he had wanted to visit them. But then he said that he didn’t come because he was dis