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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 2 Corinthians 7:5–11. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
There seems to be a connection between Co2 2:13 (where the apostle said he had no rest in his spirit when he found not Titus at Troas) and the fifth verse of this chapter: and so great was his affection to the Corinthians, and his concern about their behaviour in relation to the incestuous person, that, in his further travels, he still had no rest till he heard from them. And now he tells them,
I.How he was distressed, Co2 7:5.
He was troubled when he did not meet with Titus at Troas, and afterwards when for some time he did not meet with him in Macedonia: this was a grief to him, because he could not hear what reception he met with at Corinth, nor how their affairs went forward. And, besides this, they met with other troubles, with incessant storms of persecutions; there were fightings without, or continual contentions with, and opposition fRom. Jews and Gentiles; and there were fears within, and great concern for such as had embraced the Christian faith, lest they should be corrupted or seduced, and give scandal to others, or be scandalized.
II.How he was comforted, Co2 7:6, Co2 7:7. Here observe,
1.The very coming of Titus was some comfort to him. It was matter of joy to see him, whom he long desired and expected to meet with. The very coming of Titus and his company, who was dear to him as his own son in the common faith (Tit 1:4), was a great comfort to the apostle in his travels and troubles. But,
2.The good news which Titus brought concerning the Corinthians was matter of greater consolation. He found Titus to be comforted in them; and this filled the apostle with comfort, especially when he acquainted him with their earnest desire to give good satisfaction in the things about which the apostle had written to them; and of their mourning for the scandal that was found among them and the great grief they had caused to others, and their fervent mind or great affection towards the apostle, who had dealt so faithfully with them in reproving their faults: so true is the observation of Solomon (Pro 28:23), He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with his tongue.
3.He ascribes all his comfort to God as the author. It was God who comforted him by the coming of Titus, even the God of all comfort: God, who comforteth those that are cast down, Co2 7:6. Note, We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, unto God, as the author of all the consolation and the good that we enjoy.
III.How greatly he rejoiced at their repentance, and the evidences thereof.
The apostle was sorry that he had grieved them, that some pious persons among them laid to heart very greatly what he said in his former epistle, or that it was needful he should make those sorry whom he would rather have made glad, Co2 7:8. But now he rejoiced, when he found they had sorrowed to repentance, Co2 7:9. Their sorrow in itself was not the cause of his rejoicing; but the nature of it, and the effect of it (repentance unto salvation, Co2 7:10), made him rejoice; for now it appeared that they had received damage by him in nothing. Their sorrow was but for a season; it was turned into joy, and that joy was durable. Observe here,
1.The antecedent of true repentance is godly sorrow; this worketh repentance. It is not repentance itself, but it is a good preparative to repentance, and in some sense the cause that produces repentance. The offender had great sorrow, he was in danger of being swallowed up with overmuch sorrow; and the society was greatly sorrowful which before was puffed up: and this sorrow of theirs was after a godly manner, or according to God (as it is in the original), that is, it was according to the will of God, tended to the glory of God, and was wrought by the Spirit of God. It was a godly sorrow, because a sorrow for sin, as an offence against God, an instance of ingratitude, and a forfeiture of God's favour. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort and the sorrow of this world. Godly sorrow produces repentance and reformation, and will end in salvation; but worldly sorrow worketh death. The sorrows of worldly men for worldly things will bring down gray hairs the sooner to the grave, and such a sorrow even for sin as Judas had will have fatal consequences, as his had, which wrought death. Note,
(1.)Repentance will be attended with salvation. Therefore,
(2.)True penitents will never repent that they have repented, nor of any thing that was conducive thereto.
(3.)Humiliation and godly sorrow are previously necessary in order to repentance, and both of them are from God, the giver of all grace.
2.The happy fruits and consequences of true repentance are mentioned (Co2 7:11); and those fruits that are meet for repentance are the best evidences of it. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed too. The Corinthians made it evident that their sorrow was a godly sorrow, and such as wrought repentance, because it wrought in them great carefulness about their souls, and to avoid sin, and please God; it wrought also a clearing of themselves, not by insisting upon their own justification before God, especially while they persisted in their sin, but by endeavours to put away the accursed thing, and so free themselves from the just imputation of approving the evil that had been done. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments; it wrought fear, a fear of reverence, a fear of watchfulness, and a fear of distrust, not a distrust of God, but of themselves; an awful fear of God, a cautious fear of sin, and a jealous fear of themselves. It wrought vehement desires after a thorough reformation of what had been amiss, and of reconciliation with God whom they had offended. It wrought zeal, a mixture of love and anger, a zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought, lastly, revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make all due satisfaction for injuries that might be done thereby. And thus in all things had they approved themselves to be clear in that matter. Not that they were innocent, but that they were penitent, and therefore clear of guilt before God, who would pardon and not punish them; and they ought no longer to be reproved, much less to be reproached, by men, for what they had truly repented of.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
It is always a great comfort, when we are suffering, to have someone near us who can share it with us.
"Nevertheless He that comforteth the lowly comforted us by the coming of Titus."
For since he had testified great things of them in what he said, that he may not seem to be flattering them he cites as witness Titus the brother, who had come from them to Paul after the first Epistle to declare unto him the particulars of their amendment. But consider, I pray you, how in every place he maketh a great matter of the coming of Titus. For he saith also before, "Furthermore when I came to Troas for the Gospel, I had no relief for my spirit because I found not Titus my brother;" (2 Corinthians 2:12-13) and in this place again "we were comforted," he saith, "by the coming of Titus." For he is desirous also of establishing the man in their confidence and of making him exceedingly dear to them. And observe how he provides for both these things. For by saying on the one hand, "I had no relief for my spirit," he showeth the greatness of his virtue; and by saying on the other, that, in our tribulation his coming sufficed unto comfort; yet "not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you," he endeareth the man unto the Corinthians. For nothing doth so produce and cement friendships as the saying something sound and favorable of any one. And such he testifies Titus did; when he says that 'by his coming he hath given us wings with pleasure; such things did he report of you. On this ground his coming made us glad. For we were delighted not only by his coming, but also for the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you.' And how was he comforted? By your virtue, by your good deeds.
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Summary
In 2 Corinthians 7:6, the Apostle Paul articulates a profound truth about God's character and providence: He is the divine Comforter of those who are dejected. Amidst Paul's deep anxiety and distress concerning the Corinthian church's response to his previous letter, God intervened directly, not through a miraculous vision, but through the tangible, timely arrival of his trusted co-worker, Titus. This verse highlights how God often uses human instruments to deliver His divine solace, transforming Paul's season of despair into one of relief and renewed hope.
Context
Literary Context
This verse marks a significant turning point in Paul's emotional state, as described in 2 Corinthians. Previously, Paul had expressed profound distress and restlessness, having left Troas without finding Titus and the news he desperately awaited regarding the Corinthian church's reception of his "severe letter." He recounts his journey into Macedonia, where he faced "conflicts without, fears within" (2 Corinthians 7:5). The immediate preceding verses (2 Corinthians 7:4-5) detail this period of intense pressure and Paul's personal anguish. Therefore, the arrival of Titus, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:6, is presented as a direct, divinely orchestrated answer to Paul's fervent prayers and a tangible manifestation of God's compassionate intervention in his personal suffering. It sets the stage for Paul to elaborate on the positive report Titus brought, leading to a renewed sense of reconciliation and joy between Paul and the Corinthian believers.
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul's apostolic ministry was characterized by constant travel, reliance on co-workers for communication and support, and the inherent dangers and uncertainties of ancient journeys. Letters were the primary means of long-distance communication, and the arrival of a trusted messenger like Titus was akin to receiving crucial news in person. In the Greco-Roman world, travel was arduous and unpredictable, making the timely arrival of a specific individual highly significant. Furthermore, the early Christian communities, often small and vulnerable, depended heavily on the personal relationships and mutual encouragement among leaders and members. Paul's deep emotional investment in the Corinthian church and his anxiety over their spiritual state reflect the intense personal nature of early apostolic leadership, where the well-being of the churches was inextricably linked to the apostles' own spiritual and emotional health. Titus, as a trusted emissary and Paul's "partner and fellow worker" (2 Corinthians 8:23), played a vital role in maintaining these critical relational and theological connections.
Key Themes
The verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within 2 Corinthians and Paul's broader theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Comfort in Suffering, a pervasive motif throughout the letter, particularly in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Paul consistently portrays God as the ultimate source of all comfort, who enables believers to endure affliction and, in turn, comfort others. Secondly, it highlights God's Providence Through Human Instruments. While God is the ultimate Comforter, He often chooses to work through human agents. Titus's arrival was not a mere coincidence but a divinely orchestrated act, demonstrating God's active involvement in the lives of His servants by using fellow believers to minister solace and encouragement. This emphasizes the importance of Christian fellowship and mutual support within the body of Christ, as seen in the call to "bear one another's burdens" found in Galatians 6:2. Lastly, the verse reinforces the theme of Apostolic Vulnerability and Humility. Paul, despite his profound spiritual authority and divine calling, openly admits to experiencing deep emotional distress and being "cast down." This candid confession humanizes the apostle, reminding believers that even the strongest leaders are susceptible to anxiety and need divine comfort, thereby modeling humility and reliance on God's sustaining grace.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This conjunction (G235) is crucial, signaling a strong contrast or transition. It functions here to pivot from Paul's preceding description of intense external conflicts and internal fears (2 Corinthians 7:5) to the sudden and profound comfort he received. It emphasizes that despite the overwhelming distress, God's intervention provided a counteracting force, shifting the narrative from despair to relief.
Derived from G3870, this verb means "to call near," "to invite," "to invoke," and by implication, "to beseech," "to exhort," or "to console." Its repetition ("comforteth" and "comforted") highlights God's inherent nature as a source of solace and His active role in providing it. It signifies more than just a fleeting sense of ease; it implies a profound strengthening, encouragement, and consolation that comes from God's presence and intervention. This is the same root that gives us the term "Paraclete" for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
This adjective (G5011) describes a state of being "depressed," "humiliated," "lowly," or "abased." It vividly portrays Paul's emotional and spiritual condition, indicating a deep sense of despair, dejection, or being brought low by circumstances. The phrase "those that are cast down" identifies a specific group to whom God extends His unique comfort, emphasizing His compassion for the vulnerable and distressed.
Verse Breakdown
"Nevertheless God"
This opening phrase immediately introduces a divine intervention that contrasts sharply with Paul's preceding narrative of overwhelming distress and anxiety. It asserts God's sovereignty and active presence as the ultimate agent of change in Paul's circumstances.
"that comforteth those that are cast down"
This clause reveals a fundamental attribute of God's character. He is not distant or indifferent but actively involved in providing solace and strength to those who are in a state of deep emotional or spiritual dejection. It defines His nature as inherently compassionate and responsive to human suffering.
"comforted us"
This shifts from God's general character to His specific action in Paul's personal experience. The "us" refers to Paul and his companions, indicating a shared experience of distress and subsequent relief. This phrase underscores the tangible and personal nature of God's comfort, experienced directly by the apostles.
"by the coming of Titus"
This final phrase identifies the specific, human instrument through which God's comfort was delivered. It highlights the principle of divine providence, where God works through ordinary means and human relationships to accomplish His purposes. Titus's arrival was not coincidental but divinely orchestrated, bringing the much-needed good news and fellowship that alleviated Paul's profound anxiety.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. Anthropomorphism is evident in the depiction of God as one who "comforteth," attributing a human-like action (comforting) to the divine being, making His compassion relatable and immediate. The phrase "those that are cast down" uses Metonymy, where the state of being "cast down" (a condition of humility or dejection) stands for the people experiencing that state. This effectively highlights the specific recipients of God's comfort. Furthermore, the structure of the verse, moving from a general statement about God's character ("that comforteth those that are cast down") to a specific instance of His action ("comforted us by the coming of Titus"), demonstrates a form of exemplification, where a universal truth is immediately illustrated by a personal experience. This rhetorical strategy grounds theological truth in lived reality, making it more impactful and relatable for the readers.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse profoundly illustrates God's active and compassionate engagement with human suffering, particularly the distress of His faithful servants. It reiterates the theological truth that God is not only the ultimate source of comfort but also a God who intimately understands and responds to the deepest anxieties and dejection of His people. The arrival of Titus serves as a powerful testament to God's providential care, demonstrating that His comfort often comes through tangible, human means – the fellowship, good news, and presence of fellow believers. This points to the essential role of the Christian community as channels of divine grace and encouragement, a theme central to the New Testament's understanding of the body of Christ. God's comfort is not merely a passive feeling but an active, strengthening presence that enables endurance and transforms despair into hope.
Reflection and Application
2 Corinthians 7:6 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating seasons of distress and anxiety. It reminds us that even the most devoted servants of God, like Paul, are not immune to profound emotional struggles. When we feel "cast down" by life's pressures, external conflicts, or internal fears, this verse assures us that God, by His very nature, is our Comforter. He is intimately aware of our dejection and actively intervenes to provide solace. Moreover, it challenges us to be instruments of God's comfort to others. Just as Titus was divinely used to bring relief to Paul, we too are called to be present, to share good news, and to offer tangible support to those who are struggling. Our timely presence, a compassionate word, or an act of service can be God's hand reaching out to a hurting soul. This verse fosters a deep trust in God's providence, knowing that He will provide comfort in His perfect timing and often through the unexpected means of human connection, reinforcing the vital role of community in our spiritual well-being.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was Paul so "cast down" before Titus arrived?
Paul's distress stemmed primarily from his deep concern over the Corinthian church's response to a previous, stern letter he had sent. He was anxious about their repentance, their spiritual health, and their relationship with him as their apostle. This anxiety was so profound that it left him "no rest in his spirit" (2 Corinthians 2:13) while waiting for Titus, who was to bring news from Corinth. His struggles were compounded by "conflicts without, fears within" (2 Corinthians 7:5) as he traveled through Macedonia. His emotional state was a testament to his pastoral heart and the heavy burden he carried for the churches.
How does God "comfort those that are cast down"?
God comforts those who are "cast down" in various ways, as demonstrated in this verse. Firstly, He does so directly through the indwelling Holy Spirit, often referred to as the "Comforter" or "Helper" (John 14:16). Secondly, and as highlighted here, God frequently uses human instruments. Titus's arrival was not a coincidence but a divinely orchestrated event. He brought good news of the Corinthians' repentance and love for Paul, which was the specific comfort Paul needed. This illustrates that God's comfort is often tangible, coming through the timely presence, encouraging words, and faithful service of fellow believers within the Christian community.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
2 Corinthians 7:6, while speaking of God's comfort through Titus, ultimately points to the supreme comfort found in Jesus Christ. The "God that comforteth those that are cast down" is revealed most fully in the person and work of Christ, who perfectly embodies divine compassion and actively seeks out the brokenhearted. Jesus Himself is the ultimate "Comforter" or "Paraclete" in His earthly ministry, ministering to the sick, the marginalized, and the despairing. His life was a testament to God's desire to draw near to the "cast down" and lift them up, culminating in His ultimate act of self-sacrifice on the cross, through which He secured eternal comfort and reconciliation for all who believe (Romans 5:10-11). Furthermore, Christ, having ascended, sent the Holy Spirit, whom He called "another Helper" or "Comforter" (John 14:16), who indwells believers, providing ongoing comfort, strength, and guidance in all their afflictions. Thus, Titus's arrival, bringing relief to Paul, foreshadows the greater, abiding comfort that Christ provides through His Spirit and through the fellowship of His body, the Church, until His glorious return, when all tears will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).