2 Corinthians 2:4
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
The letter in view is Paul's painful corrective letter to the Corinthian church, written because of its serious spiritual condition marked by concealed sins, divisions, and spiritual decline. He wrote it out of much affliction and anguish of heart, from deep distress and sorrow with many tears, and causing them pain pained him so that the correction itself cost him pain. His purpose was not to make them sorrowful for its own sake, but to make them know his more abundant, overflowing love for them.
He was eager to explain his reason for writing and to take care to leave the impression that he was a friend of those who had erred, with his interests and concern bound up with theirs. The verse is thus a model of faithful reproof given without losing self-control, but with tenderness, earnest love, faithfulness, care, and sympathy for people struggling against temptation, for their good and healing.
Such admonition should preserve self-respect and confidence rather than destroy them, since distrust can itself cause a tempted person to stumble. Though words of warning may wound pride, Christ's grace can soften and heal when love and grace accompany the admonition. His warnings and reproofs were expressions of loving care intended to reach their hearts and renew their devotion to Christ.