2 Corinthians 7:12

I wrote. See on chapter 2:3.

Not for his cause. In writing the former letter Paul had shown his great concern for the good name of the church. He feared that the heathen would look with scorn upon Christianity, and that the Judaizers would point to this brazen case of incest as the result of his ministry. Now that the church had dealt firmly with the offender and he had repented, and the good name of the church had thus been protected, Paul’s concern turned to the spiritual welfare of the individuals concerned (chapter 2:6-8).

That had done the wrong. That is, the immoral offender of 1 Corinthians 5:1-5.

That suffered wrong. Probably the husband of the woman involved.

Our care for you. At the time Paul wrote the former letter his chief anxiety had been for the church as a whole, for its spiritual welfare and for its reputation among unbelievers.

Purity among the early Christians was a sure mark by which they might be distinguished from pagans. Immorality was not considered evil by the heathen, and was often an integral part of religious worship. Paul expected the churches to give a positive testimony to the fact that they lived above all such practices. The living witness of the church today is closely related to the purity of its members.