Ambrosiaster : Paul did not want to hurt the Corinthians, but he saw it as the necessary prelude to the joy which would come from their obedience. — COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES Basil of Caesarea : It is shameful, indeed, that they who are sick in body place so much confidence in physicians that, even if these cut or burn or cause distress by their bitter medicines, they look upon them as benefactors, while we do not share this attitude toward the physicians of our souls when they secure our salvation for us by laborious discipline. The apostle says, however: "Who is he then who can make me glad, but the same who is made sorrowful by me." … It behooves one who looks to the end, therefore, to consider him a benefactor who causes us pain which is according to God. — THE LONG RULES 52 John Chrysostom : "For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?" What is this consequence? A very just one indeed. For observe, I would not, he saith, come unto you, lest I should increase your sorrow, rebuking, showing anger and disgust. Then seeing that even this was strong and implied accusation that they so lived as to make Paul sorry, he applies a corrective in the words, "For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?" What he saith is of this kind. "Even though I were to be in sorrow, being compelled to rebuke you and to see you sorry, still nevertheless this very thing would have made me glad. For this is a proof of the greatest love, that you hold me in such esteem as to be hurt at my being displeased with you." Behold too his prudence. Their doing what all disciples do, namely, smarting and feeling it when rebuked, he produces as an instance of their gratifying him; for, saith he, "No man maketh me so glad as he that giveth heed to my words, and is sorry when he seeth me angry." Yet what followed naturally was to say, "For if I make you sorry, who then is he that can make you glad?" But he doth not say this, but turns his speech back again, dealing tenderly with them, and says, "Though I make you sorry, even herein ye bestow on me a very great favor in that ye are hurt at what I say." — Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians