Note 2 at 2 Cor. 2:6: The man whom Paul is speaking of is the man in 1 Corinthians 5 who had committed incest. He was disciplined by the Corinthian church (see note 6 at 1 Cor. 5:5, p. 882) through the withdrawal of their intercession and fellowship. Paul is saying that the punishment was sufficient and now it was time to receive him back into right standing with the church.

The fact that this punishment was inflicted by many is proof that Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 5 were followed by a large percentage of the Corinthian believers. Paul's leadership had been questioned but apparently, his apostolic authority had been re-established.