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Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7 verses 5–11
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.
Paul showed what great affection he had for them. He paid no mind to the stench of the dungeon, nor of the pain of the lashes, nor of the rope with which his feet were bound. But when he heard that the Corinthians had amended their ways he rejoiced, and forgetting his sufferings, thanked God for their salvation, viewing it as a kind of reward for his troubles.
"While he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me." 'These things made him glad,' he says, 'these things comforted him.' Seest thou how he shows that he also is an earnest lover of theirs, seeing he considers their good report as a consolation to himself; and when he was come, gloried, as though on account of his own good things, unto Paul.
And observe with what warmth of expression he reporteth these things, "Your longing, your mourning, your zeal." For it was likely that they would mourn and grieve why the blessed Paul was so much displeased, why he had kept away from them so long. And therefore he did not say simply tears, but "mourning;" nor desire, but "longing;" nor anger, but "zeal;" and again "zeal toward him," which they displayed both about him that had committed fornication and about those who were accusing him. 'For,' saith he, 'ye were inflamed and blazed out on receiving my letters.' On these accounts he abounds in joy, on these accounts he is filled with consolation, because he made them feel. It seems to me, however, that these things are said not only to soften what has gone before, but also in encouragement of those who had acted in these things virtuously. For although I suppose that some were obnoxious to those former accusations and unworthy of these praises; nevertheless, he doth not distinguish them, but makes both the praises and the accusations common, leaving it to the conscience of his hearers to select that which belongs to them. For so both the one would be void of offence, and the other lead them on to much fervor of mind.
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SUMMARY
Paul's profound relief and overflowing joy are captured in this verse, as he recounts the specific comfort brought by Titus. This comfort was not merely from Titus's arrival, but from the detailed report he delivered concerning the Corinthian church's positive response to Paul's previous, stern letter. The news of their earnest desire for reconciliation, their genuine sorrow over past misdeeds, and their renewed fervent loyalty toward Paul transformed his deep anxiety into abundant rejoicing, signaling a significant turning point in their strained relationship.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs Metonymy, where "consolation" (G3874 paráklēsis) stands not merely for the act of comforting, but for the comforting content of Titus's report. The specific details that follow—earnest desire, mourning, fervent mind—are the actual elements that constitute this "consolation." There is also clear Emphasis through repetition and accumulation of emotional terms ("earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind"), building a crescendo of positive news that underscores the profound shift in the Corinthians' attitude and the depth of Paul's resulting joy. The phrase "rejoiced the more" serves as a powerful Climax, signaling the overwhelming nature of Paul's relief and the successful resolution of a deeply troubling situation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully illustrates the transformative power of genuine repentance and reconciliation within the body of Christ. Paul's intense anxiety underscores the deep pastoral heart of an apostle who genuinely grieved over the spiritual health of the church he founded. His subsequent overflowing joy, however, reveals the immense satisfaction that comes from seeing believers embrace godly sorrow, turn from their sin, and restore strained relationships. This process of repentance, reconciliation, and mutual comfort is not merely a human dynamic but is deeply rooted in God's character as the ultimate source of comfort and the initiator of reconciliation through Christ. It reflects the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in convicting hearts and drawing believers back into right relationship with God and one another, demonstrating the vital interconnectedness and mutual responsibility within the Christian community.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Corinthians 7:7 offers a powerful testament to the spiritual health that can be restored through genuine repentance and the profound joy found in reconciliation. Paul's journey from deep anxiety to overwhelming joy serves as a model for how leaders and communities can navigate conflict and brokenness. It reminds us that true comfort often comes not from avoiding difficult conversations or ignoring sin, but from confronting issues with love and truth, and then witnessing the Spirit's work in bringing about godly sorrow. For individuals, this verse encourages us to embrace genuine sorrow for our sins, knowing that such grief is a pathway to healing and restoration, not condemnation. For churches, it highlights the immense value of open communication, accountability, and the relentless pursuit of reconciliation, demonstrating that the health of the body is reflected in the quality of its relationships. When we humble ourselves, confess our faults, and seek to make amends, we not only experience personal peace but also bring immense comfort and joy to those we have affected, strengthening the bonds of Christian fellowship and glorifying God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the "severe letter" Paul sent to the Corinthians, and why was he so anxious about their response?
Answer: The "severe letter" (also referred to as the "letter of tears" in 2 Corinthians 2:4) is believed by many scholars to be a previous letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians, possibly one that is now lost or a portion of 1 Corinthians or even an earlier part of 2 Corinthians itself. Its exact content is debated, but it was clearly a stern rebuke addressing serious issues within the church, such as immorality, disunity, and challenges to Paul's apostolic authority. Paul was deeply anxious because the letter was a risky move; it could have alienated the Corinthians further, leading to a complete break in their relationship, or it could have brought about the desired repentance and restoration. His anxiety stemmed from his profound pastoral concern for their spiritual well-being and his desire for their reconciliation with him and with God.
What is the significance of "earnest desire, mourning, and fervent mind" in the Corinthians' response?
Answer: These three phrases describe the specific and profound nature of the Corinthians' repentance, which brought Paul such comfort. Their "earnest desire" (G1972 epipóthēsis) indicated a genuine longing for reconciliation and Paul's presence. Their "mourning" (G3602 odyrmós) signified a deep, heartfelt sorrow over their past sins and disunity, a godly sorrow that led to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Their "fervent mind" (G2205 zēlos) indicated a renewed zeal, passion, and loyalty toward Paul and his apostolic teaching, moving beyond their previous resistance. Together, these expressions confirmed that their response was not superficial but a profound change of heart and attitude, leading to genuine restoration.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Corinthians 7:7 describes Paul's human experience of comfort and joy in reconciliation, it ultimately points to the greater work of Christ. Paul's rejoicing over the Corinthians' repentance mirrors the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). The "consolation" Paul received is a reflection of the ultimate comfort provided by the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised as the "Comforter" or "Advocate" (John 14:16). The Corinthians' "mourning" and "earnest desire" for Paul foreshadow the profound sorrow for sin that leads to salvation, a sorrow made redemptive only through the atoning work of Christ on the cross, who bore our sins and offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice (1 Peter 2:24). Christ Himself is the great Reconciler, who broke down the dividing wall of hostility and reconciled us to God in one body through the cross (Ephesians 2:14-16). Paul's joy in the restoration of a broken relationship within the church is a foretaste of the perfect, unbroken fellowship believers will experience in Christ's presence, where all tears will be wiped away and true comfort will abound (Revelation 21:4). Thus, this verse, while personal, serves as a powerful testament to the transforming power of the gospel and the ongoing ministry of reconciliation that flows from Christ's finished work.