Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 7:6

ἀλλʼ ὁ παρακαλῶν τοὺς ταπεινούς. But He that comforteth the depressed, even God: from Isaiah 49:13. Comp. θεὸς πάσης παρακλήσεως (2 Corinthians 1:3). It is perhaps true to say that ταπεινός in Scripture never means ‘low, mean, servile,’ as often in classical Greek. It may be used of a low tree (Ezekiel 17:24); or of those of low estate (James 1:9); or of low spirits, which seems to be the meaning here. In Sir 25:23 a bad woman is said to produce a καρδία ταπεινὴ καὶ πρόσωπον σκυθρωπόν in him who has to deal with her. Comp. σκυθρωποὺς καὶ ταπεινοὺς περιιόντας (Xen. Hell. VI. iv. 16). It is the low-spirited rather than the lowly that need to be ‘comforted.’

ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ Τίτου. By the coming and presence of Titus. Both words are needed to bring out the meaning of παρουσία, the word so frequently used of the Second Advent (Matthew 24:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:23; James 5:7; 2 Peter 3:4).

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 7:6

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