2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
Commentary
Vs. 2 "Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one."
Again the Apostle Paul urges the Corinthians to open their hearts to him, just as he had opened his own heart towards them. For Paul didn't want the Corinthians to be guarded with their hearts and feelings towards him. Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that they could be open and honest with him, just as he was being with them, for he could be trusted. That is why he says, "We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one." For whatever his detractors were saying about him, the reality of Paul's ministry and life gave absolute evidence to the fact that he was not peddling the word of God for his own profit; nor was he manipulating people's opinions or feelings to make himself look better and others worse; nor did Paul break confidence by sharing those things spoken in confidence to the detriment of others; nor did Paul take advantage of anyone; or scheme things; Paul cheated no one. Paul was a man of integrity, not duplicity. And thus the Corinthians could trust him, just as he was trusting them with his own heart, life, and feelings.
Vs. 3 "I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together."
Now in stating these things the Apostle Paul was not wanting to condemn them for their having wronged him; for as he says here, "you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together." Meaning whether in life or in death, Paul's love for them was steadfast, and was not conditioned by whatever wrongs they had done to him. Thick skin with an absolute willingness to forgive and be reconciled to ones brethren when wronged then is not only a key part of being a Christian, but also being a shepherd of God's people (Matt 18:15-35; Luke 17:3-4; Eph. 5:30-32; also Lev 19:17-18).
Vs. 4 "Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation."
The Apostle Paul's confidence, as well as his exuberance for them, is driven then by the fact that Titus has already reported to him the Corinthians repentance (vs. 6-11); and thus Paul could not only be boastful of them, but he could be filled with all comfort, and have all joy, even in his own tribulations, because the Corinthians having acknowledge their wrongs and offenses were now seeking to do what was right.
Vs. 5-7 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
The Apostle Paul now recalls when the news of the Corinthians repentance came to him, and how positively it effected him. For it was during a very difficult time in his life and ministry (vs. 5). And so though in a state of despondency (or great discouragement), Paul recalls how God comforted him with the coming of Titus to him, whom he had been greatly concerned about (vs. 6, 2 Cor 2:12-13). That said, Paul goes on to say that not only was he comforted with Titus' coming to him, but also he received the consolation that Titus himself had, when Titus reported to him the Corinthians earnest desire to do what was right; their mourning for having down what was wrong; and now their zeal for Paul personally, and so with this news Paul rejoiced with Titus even more, because clearly God was at work not only amongst them, but also God was with and working through the Corinthians as well.
Vs. 8-9 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
Vs. 5-7 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
The Apostle Paul now recalls when the news of the Corinthians repentance came to him, and how positively it effected him. For it was during a very difficult time in his life and ministry (vs. 5). And so though in a state of despondency (or great discouragement), Paul recalls how God comforted him with the coming of Titus to him, whom he had been greatly concerned about (vs. 6, 2 Cor 2:12-13). That said, Paul goes on to say that not only was he comforted with Titus' coming to him, but also he received the consolation that Titus himself had, when Titus reported to him the Corinthians earnest desire to do what was right; their mourning for having down what was wrong; and now their zeal for Paul personally, and so with this news Paul rejoiced with Titus even more, because clearly God was at work not only amongst them, but also God was with and working through the Corinthians as well.
Vs. 8-9 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
Previously the Apostle Paul had sent Titus with an epistle to the Corinthians to address some of the problems there, apparently the Apostle Paul had some concerns about the sternness of his letter (vs. 8). Yet now seeing the fruits of it, Paul can now say that though he initially regretted making them sorrowful, yet seeing and hearing from Titus the Corinthians earnest desire and zeal to do what was right once their wrong was exposed, and thus though they were made sorrowful by it for a season, yet that very same sorrowfulness led them to their repentance. And so Paul can rightly say that they were made sorrowful in godly manner (and thus he didn't berate them for it, or simply shame them into feeling bad about themselves, rather Paul brought to light their sin in such a way so as to make them confront it head on, and so seeing it for what it was, and the harm it caused others and themselves, they themselves wanted to repent of it). And so having brought about their repentance in a godly manner; though sorrow initially accompanied that; Paul could now look on it and say that this was done so that they might suffer loss from Titus and himself in nothing. For Paul could've just as easily overlooked their sin, or downplayed it, and in time this would've only led to worse and worse things for them, and so like a loving and wise parent who takes corrective action when their own children's behavior gets out of line, so Paul did here. So that Corinthians could go forward in faith and not backward into sin, and thus suffer loss from either Paul or Titus in nothing. For again the absolute worse thing to do when sin arises amongst a congregation is to do, or saying nothing at all. Now regarding this consider the terrible Old Testament example of Eli the high priest, and how much his own inaction cost not only him, and his own household, but also the people of God who would loose the Ark of Covenant for twenty years to the Philistines. For when Eli found out his own sons were sleeping with women in the congregation, he did nothing to restrain them, and thus God removed both him as well as His descendants from being before Him forever (see 1 Samuel 2:11-4:22).
Vs. 10 "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
If there is anything that lacks in this world it is godly sorrow, for godly sorrow is what drove the revivals of old, bringing people to repentance and faith before God through Christ; while the sorrow of this world is only sorrow over the consequences of ones sin, but it is not sorrow over the sin itself. Godly sorrow then starts by agreeing with God and what God's Word says about ones sin, and then seeking the mercies and help from God to have His salvation and deliverance from ones sins and transgressions (see James 4:8-10). In contrast the sorrow of this world is only to be in remorse over the consequences and losses from ones sins and transgressions. It does not seek God or even submit too God, in fact it only resists God and deny's God; and thus is not a change of mind about either oneself, ones sins, or even God Himself to whom we are all accountable too; and thus the sorrow of this world is born by oneself apart from God, and thus does not bring people to repentance before God which will lead to their salvation. In fact people will often blame God for their own wayward ways, or even hate God for the judgments that He renders against their sins; rather then acknowledge God and repent of them (consider Prov 19:3; Rev 9:20-21; 16:8-9). And so just as godly sorrow produces repentance, so the sorrow of the world only produces death. Death because the "wages of sin is death" (Rom. 3:23), but the free gift of God is eternal life by faith in Christ (Rom 6:23). And so rather then hardening your heart too God (Job 9:4), or turning back to your sins and transgressions, turn to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, because with Christ there is not only the remission of your and everyones sins and transgressions who believes; but there is everlasting life (John 3:16).
Vs. 11 "For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter."
Now the fruits of Godly sorrow were self-evident amongst the Corinthians, as the Apostle Paul states here. And so Godly sorrow produced seven very good things in them beginning with diligence. For though the Corinthians initially were indifferent or inattentive to the sin amongst them, when Godly sorrow took hold of their hearts they became very proactive in dealing with it. Something which takes place in us as well when we see the sins in our own persons and lives for what they are and we repent and likewise take Godly action against them. Next then was the clearing of themselves, that is the Apostle Paul though previously charging them with great error in not dealing with the sin and the sinner amongst them, now commends them for having done so. Now their indignation may have been initially directed at the sinner and his sin, but here Paul is likely commending their own Godly indignation at having allowed such things to carry on for so long (consider Jeremiah 31:19). Fear here is a reverential fear, a fear of the Lord and His Word given them through the Apostle. As well there was now a reverential fear of the Apostle, since Paul not only bore the Word of the Lord to them, but he bore Christ's authority as His Apostle, and it seems the Corinthians were now acknowledging that. Their vehement desire to do what was right then was born out of their repentance and Godly, reverential fear. While zeal indicates the manner in which they did it. That is they weren't slack about it, they took immediate action. There vindication then before God and the Apostle was that they gave justice to the one who had suffered the wrong (see Louw Nida 56.35). And so with that the Apostle Paul could now boldly and confidently reaffirm them all by saying, "In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter." That is having done what was right to bring about a just end to it all, the Apostle could now confidently say they were clear in this matter.
Vs. 12 "Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you."
The Apostle Paul's chief concern then was for the Corinthians as a whole, and not just the individual/s involved in the unfortunate incident, and so here Paul wants them all to know his care for them all in the sight of God is real and genuine and ongoing.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 556). New York: United Bible Societies.
No comments:
Post a Comment