Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 7:11

λυπηθῆναι (אBCFG) rather than λυπηθῆναι ὑμᾶς (א3DKLP).

11. The Corinthians themselves are shown to be a joyous illustration of ἡ κατὰ θεὸν λύπη and its results. The delight with which the Apostle rehearses the particulars of the tidings brought by Titus is very characteristic.

ἰδοὺ γὰρ αὐτὸ τοῦτο κ.τ.λ. For behold, what earnestness this very being made sorry as God would have you sorry worked out in you; or, For, behold, this very thing, your being sorry in God’s way,—what earnestness it worked out in you. The σπουδή (2 Corinthians 7:12; 2 Corinthians 8:7-8; 2 Corinthians 8:16) is the opposite of their previous indifference and neglect. But S. Paul feels that there was a great deal more than σπουδή, and he goes on, with great animation, to add six other items.

ἀλλὰ�. Nay, what clearing of yourselves; i.e. defence, exculpation,—in the first instance to Titus, but through him to the Apostle, with whom the judgment lay. They had never contended that the offender had done no wrong. The ἀλλά means ‘but over and above this,’ or ‘not only this but.’ The repetition of ἀλλά, in 1 Corinthians 6:11 is not quite parallel.

ἀγανάκτησιν. Indignation at the scandal. Originally used of physical discomfort (Plato Phaedr. 251); then of mental vexation (Thuc. II. xli. 3). The word occurs nowhere else in Biblical Greek.

φόβον. Fear of the Apostle’s punishment of the rebellious.

ἐπιπόθησιν. Longing for the Apostle’s return. But fear of God’s judgments, and longing for His forgiveness may be meant.

ἐκδίκησιν. Avenging: a late word, but frequent in the sense of avenging or punishing (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30; 1 Peter 2:14; &c.). This comes last, because the punishment of the offender (2 Corinthians 2:6) had been one of the chief difficulties. There may be truth in Bengel’s suggestion that the six topics are in three pairs directed to (1) the shame of the Church, (2) the feeling towards the Apostle, (3) the attitude towards the offender. But ζῆλος suits (2) better than (3). Ideo patet quod tristitia quae secundum Deum est operatur pœnitentiam in salutem, quia generat omnes has virtutes, quae ducunt ad aeternam vitam (Herveius Burgidol.).

ἐν παντὶ συνεστήσατε ἑαυτούς. In everything ye approved yourselves. For ἐν παντί see on 2 Corinthians 7:5 : here it sums up the points just mentioned.

ἁγνοὺς εἶναι τῷ πράγματι. To be pure in the matter, i.e. to be purged from contamination (Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Peter 3:2; James 3:16; 1 John 3:3, where see Westcott’s note). The use of ἁγνός is no evidence that the offender in question (2 Corinthians 2:5) is the incestuous person of 1 Corinthians 5:1. The vague τὸ πρᾶγμα indicates a distasteful topic: comp. 1 Thessalonians 4:6.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 7:11

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