2 Corinthians 2:7

So that contrariwise. Having made an incision and accomplished his purpose, a surgeon binds up the wound and seeks to restore his patient to health. The offender at Corinth had been deprived of Christian fellowship by the majority of the church members. But now that he had repented, further discipline would be vindictive and punitive, and would tend to discourage him from being loyal to his new resolve.

Comfort him. Forgiveness was not enough. The church was to receive this returning brother as God receives a penitent sinner into His favor. The offense should be forgiven and forgotten. It is the duty of the church to treat every true penitent with kindness (see on Luke 15:7; Eph. 4:32).

Swallowed up. Or, “overwhelmed,” as if drowning. Excessive sorrow or calamity is often compared to floodwaters (see Ps. 69:1; 124:2–5; Isa. 8:7, 8). We commonly speak of being overwhelmed with grief or drowned in sorrow. Paul was genuinely concerned for the repentant man’s soul. There must be no evidence of continued rejection or disdain by church members, lest excessive grief overwhelm him and drive him back into sin.