Tag: Book of 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

When sin was dealt with as the Apostle Paul had pointed out, God’s peace came to God’s people. As the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

When doctrine is taught, God’s principle enunciated, bringing about reproof, resulting in correction, then the zeal to follow the instruction of righteousness puts the man of God on track toward spiritual maturity.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

What great longing, what earnest desire, translated “vehement desire” here, referring their longing to see the Apostle Paul visiting them again. The visit of Titus as a representative of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church and the conveying of their affection toward the Apostle Paul brought comfort to his heart.

2 Corinthians 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

The Apostle Paul’s rejoicing can be clearly understood as a picture of the prodigal son returning to the father in Luke 15, as it were, there was an earnest desire for the son to seek a right way with God, to the rejoicing of the father.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Hendriksen observed well, “Paul uses the word fear five times in this epistle, of which four are in this chapter (v. 1, 5, 11, 15; 5:11). He uses “fear” in the sense of reverence and respect for God and man, so that we may conclude that the word signifies reverence for God and respect for Paul. That is, the Corinthians respect Paul as God’s representative and bringer of divine revelation.”¹

The church in Corinth had a deep regard for the Apostle Paul as such, his letter was serious read, considered and heeded. It was heartening for him to know that. He has been seeking the Lord that the church may make progress, maturing in the ways of God. The good report from Titus confirmed the church received well his letter of admonition. A letter that was needful. Yet there could be a possibility that the hearts have been turned away from God so that his admonition will be spurned.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Rather than condoning their sins, the Corinthian church was upset that they allowed themselves to be led astray from their steadfastness in the Lord. They were unhappy with themselves for yielding to temptation. They were upset with themselves for their lack of vigilance.

When Israel was in the conquest of the Promised Land, they did not consult the Lord but made an alliance with the Gibeonites.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

The phrase “clearing of yourselves” is the word “ἀπολογία” (apologia), from which we get the word “apologetics”. It means “a speech in defence”. The Corinthian Christians were eager to repent and make redress for every wrong committed. It does not mean they were eager to defend their wrongdoing rather they were eager to seek a right way to correct their wrongdoing.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

The word “carefulness” means “haste, diligence, earnestness”. The Apostle Paul was thankful to God that his letter to the Corinthian church has been earnestly read and with diligence, with haste, the exhortations to holiness followed. They sorrowed for sin and sought to do the will of God.

As Jesus taught in Matthew 5:3-6 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. The putting away of sin and turning to God to do His will results in a deep desire to do according to God’s Word.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

The verdict of handing Jesus over to the Roman authorities causes an emotional response from Judas, the treasurer of the group. It causes Judas to be very remorseful. Realizing his sin of betraying innocent blood, Judas offered the money back to the chief priests and elders. This was the deadly fruit of treachery. These godless, lawless men refused to wash their hands from the matter, refusing to hear Judas’.

Matthew 27:2-3 2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

We observe here how Judas was remorseful. But it was not godly repentance that leads to salvation. He was sorry for the effects which his crime brought upon himself, he was yet unwilling to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour!

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

A man who is truly sorry for his sins mourns with godly sorrow with a mind-settled to stop sinning. Such a one finds forgiveness with God in Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The church in Corinth consists of believers who were not walking right with God and needed to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. They needed to be delivered from their sins. The Apostle Paul prayed that there would be genuine contrition of heart to put sin away once for all. He encouraged them to understand such deliverance will bring God’s peace and joy to their hearts again. There shall be no regret for their godly courage to repent of their sins will bring God’s blessing to their lives again.

2 Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

When the church in Corinth received the letter from the Apostle Paul pointing out the sin that was in their midst, there was a spiritual awakening to mourn for their sins and to repent of their sins. The Apostle Paul knew when sin is put away, God’s peace and joy will come. He rejoices with them for they understood that the reproof was for their spiritual advancement and have been convicted in their hearts to turn away from sin and to turn to Christ, finding forgiveness. They were genuinely repentant, they were sorry after a godly manner.

2 Corinthians 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

MacDonald observed well, “When the Corinthians first read his letter, it came as a rebuke to them, and they were pained. After sending the letter, the apostle anticipated their reaction to it, and this made him sorry. Not that he was conscious of having done any wrong; that is not the thought here at all. Rather he was sorry that in carrying out his work for the Lord, it was necessary that others should at times be cast into unhappiness temporarily in order that God’s purposes might be worked out in their lives.”