Zeal (2 Cor. 7:12)

“Although I wrote

To you,

It was not on account

Of the one who did the wrong,

Nor on account

Of the one who suffered the wrong,

But in order

That your enthusiasm

For us

Might be revealed

To you

In the sight of God.”

ἄρα εἰ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, οὐχ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος, ἀλλ’ ἕνεκεν τοῦ φανερωθῆναι τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ.

Paul said that although he wrote to them (ἄρα εἰ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν), it was not on account of the one who did the wrong (οὐχ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος), nor on account of the one who suffered the wrong (οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος), but in order that their enthusiasm for Paul might be revealed (ἀλλ’ ἕνεκεν τοῦ φανερωθῆναι τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν) to them (πρὸς ὑμᾶς) in the sight of God (ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ).  Paul indicated that he wrote to them about this incident in chapter two.  He was not doing this for the one who did the wrong thing or even for the one who was offended.  Rather, he wanted them to know how Paul felt about this issue.  Thus, their good reciprocal feelings for each would be well known before man and God.  Do you try to bring about better relationships between the people that you know?