2 Corinthians 7:12-16

Butler's Commentary

SECTION 3

Aftermath (2 Corinthians 7:12-16)

12So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your zeal for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13Therefore we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by you all. 14For if I have expressed to him some pride in you, I was not put to shame; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting before Titus had proved true. 15And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, and the fear and trembling with which you received him. 16I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you.

2 Corinthians 7:12-13 a Revelation: Repentance (orientation of the mind toward God's way of thinking) produces spiritual discoveries! Paul says, The real reason I wrote those severe things which caused you grief was to bring you to a revelation of just how much you love me as we are in God. Paul had the ultimate benefit of the Corinthians in mind when he had to be harsh with them. When they repented, it proved who they were! The reason they had been arrogant and indifferent toward the wickedness going on amongst them was they had forgotten who and whose they were. Going through the experience of repentance inevitably produces an awareness that one is a child of God. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8:1-17).

The chastening and discipline which leads to repentance and the peaceable fruit of righteousness is the experience that confirms we are sons of God (see Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 Corinthians 11:32; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Revelation 3:19). The classic illustration of repentance revealing sonship is the Parable of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11 ff). It was the moment the prodigal came to himself and changed his mind about the value of the far country and set his mind on his father's house that he became aware of who he really was!

When the Corinthians were brought up short by Paul's severe rebuking they began to grieve God's way and rediscovered their strong affection for Paul in the Lord. There are three factors working together to produce a repentance which confirms that a person is a child of God: (1) The Holy Spirit working his will through his Word (the Scriptures); (2) the surrender of the human will to the authoritative leading of the Holy Spirit; (3) the preachers or messengers through whom the Holy Spirit ministers his Word. William Chamberlain puts it, Somehow, a creative activity of God works through the message of a crucified Saviour, preached by sinning men to a world in sin and revolt, and so God changes the minds of men from the mind of the flesh to the mind of Christ. This is too wonderful to understand, but we see it operate wherever a crucified Saviour is presented by men who have experienced his grace. God provides the initiative, the dynamic, and the means; man responds; and repentance is the result. Repentance (change of mind to conform to God's way) gives divine perspective to everything! It is as if a dark veil were liftedas if blind eyes were suddenly given sight. History, life, origins, destinies, relationships, and things are seen in the light of the future glory for the sons of God. Repentance is more than sorrow for sinit is more than reformed behavior. It is a renewed mind.

2 Corinthians 7:13 b - 2 Corinthians 7:14 Relief: The godly change in the Corinthians was a great blessing to Titus. Paul rejoiced at the joy of Titus because his mind has been set at rest by you all. The Greek word anapepautai is a combined word in the perfect tense and might be translated, being completely put at rest in the past and continues to be at rest. And it was Titus-' spirit (Gr. pneuma) which the RSV equates with mind. His spirit was put completely at rest.

It was a great relief to Titus when the Corinthians manifested they were thinking according to God again. Titus was going to be sent back to Corinth to complete the arrangements for the collection for the poor brethren in Judea. Besides, when Paul's character was being maligned, Titus-' mind and heart would be troubled. Titus was Paul's true child in a common faith (Titus 1:4). Paul's affection for Titus and trust in him are unquestionable. The same would be true of Titus toward Paul.

Their repentance was a great relief to Paul. It is probable that Titus had undertaken the mission to Corinth with Paul's severe letter with some misgivings but had been encouraged by the boasts of Paul that the Corinthians would repent and be reconciled. Paul was relieved that Titus had seen that come true. He would not want this young evangelist to experience failure by witnessing impenitence. There are enough disillusionments and discouragements for young preachers in the world without having to suffer the disillusionment of seeing impenitence in the lives of the children or God!
A repenting church will be a church at rest! What the church of Christ needs in this day more than anything elsemore than cathedrals, causes, and collectionsis repentance. Congregations institute programs for every aspect of ministry except repentance. Have you ever heard of a congregation implementing a program for repentance? Yet repentance is the thrust of every epistle written by an apostle to a congregation. Repentance is the exclusive theme of Christ's program for the seven churches of Asia Minor to prepare them for facing their confrontation with the beast, the false prophet, and the harlot. When John the Baptist and Jesus preached the gospel it was repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

As William Chamberlain concludes, The Church must redefine its task. We have had too much preaching that dealt out mild homeopathic doses of ethical exhortation or sought to establish a social utopia by ignoring the fundamental need for a complete change in the mind and heart of mankind. Jesus and John. began with this need. The Kingdom was at hand, they proclaimed, and that called for a complete metamorphosis of the mind of man.. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our task is to capture the mind of man. This includes the subconscious mind.. The Church must be told that becoming a Christian requires a new set of values, a new pattern for life, a new mind. If one's thoughts begin and end with one's personal convenience and desires, one is disqualified for Christian living. The preacher must keep reminding the Church that it must become Christian in its ideals, its desires, and its aspirations before it can become Christian in its practice, for the conduct of man hinges on his thought life. A pagan bent in one's thoughts gives a pagan tilt to one's life.

2 Corinthians 7:15-16 Reconciliation: Titus-' troubled spirit was not only put at rest, but his heart went out to the Corinthians all the more. The Greek word translated heart is splagchna often translated bowels in KJV. It means gut feelings or deep, innermost affections. Titus was moved emotionally by this experience. Today, while the Church is moved by musical performances, or humorous speakers, it is often indifferent and sometimes chagrined at any accomplishment of true repentancenot merely a show of sorrowa manifested change of thinking.

What moved Titus emotionally was the obedience (Gr. hupakoen, hearing, obeying) of the Corinthians. The Corinthians were grieved with a godly grief. But it was not their sorrow which impressed Titusit was their obedience! In most cases today, people get emotional over seeing the emotions of others on display. But the impact the Corinthians had on Titus and Paul was due to their display of obedience. Obedience is what impresses the Lord, too! (see 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Hebrews 11:7-8; Genesis 22:10-12; Romans 1:5; Romans 16:19; Romans 16:26; Hebrews 5:8-9, etc.). The fruition of repentance is obedience.

Another thing that impressed Titus about the Corinthians was the fear and trembling with which they received him. The Greek words used are phobou from which we get the English word phobia (fear), and tromou, which is the noun form of the Greek verb tremo (English, tremor, tremble). Does is seem unChristian for Paul to be rejoicing that the Corinthians responded to Titus-' message with phobia and timidity? How many Christians do you know who respond to exhortations to repent with fear and trembling? Usually the reaction to scriptural rebuke, especially if it is severe, is first anger, then defensiveness or self-justification, and finally retaliation. But what Titus saw in the Corinthians was godly grief, obedience, fear and trembling. What a difference! It is the difference between repentance and rebellion, between righteousness and ungodliness; it is the difference between Christian and hypocrite. We have discussed the imperative part the fear of God plays in the perfection of holiness in Christian character (see notes on 2 Corinthians 7:1). Paul adds here the part fear plays in repentance. Fear plays a very significant part in holy conduct (see 1 Peter 1:15-17). What Titus reported made Paul write, I am rejoicing because I am having confidence (Gr. tharro, boldness, courage) in you in everything. Reconciliation has taken place. Full restoration of affection and brotherly love is made because the Corinthians decided to think God's way, and Paul's heart is overflowing.

So, Paul the preacher found himself with a problem about repentance. He faced it squarely, honestly and faithfully. His passion for the Corinthians, his pathos for their need, and his willingness to risk their friendship when he knew only pain would augment repentance helped him provide the solution to the problem. What resulted was true repentance (change from the mind of the flesh to the mind of Christ) and righteous behavior from the Corinthians. And the blessings which came (self-revelation, relief, and rejoicing) gave Paul, Titus and the congregation at Corinth a taste of the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come. (Hebrews 6:4-5). The kingdom of God was theirs (Matthew 5:3-13).

APPREHENSION:

1.

What is repentance?

2.

Why did Paul have to remind the Corinthians that he had not taken advantage of them?

3.

What affliction did Paul have in Macedonia? Why was he in Macedonia?

4.

What is the meaning of downcast?

5.

How did the comfort Titus had help Paul?

6.

How did Paul make the Corinthians sorry with his letter?

7.

Why was he not sorry he had made them sorry?

8.

What is godly grief?

9.

What is worldly grief?

10.

How did the Corinthians prove they had repented?

11.

What did Paul plan would be revealed to the Corinthians by his severe letter?

12.

What did the repentance of the Corinthians do for Titus?

13.

What did the Corinthians do that made Titus deeply emotional toward them?

14.

Why did the Corinthians react to Paul's message with fear and trembling?

APPLICATION:

1.

If repentance is essentially a change of thinking so as to think God's thoughts, what should preaching and Sunday School teaching focus on?

2.

Do you see your preacher as seeking you to open your heart to him?

3.

Have you opened your heart to him? Has he opened his heart to you?

4.

Do you think of your minister as one who has walked in your shoes?

5.

Would it help you to repent if he reassured you that he has or is walking there?

6.

When you find you have had to repent (change your mind) about something from God's word, does it draw you closer to your preacher? How?

7.

How do you react to your preacher, your Sunday School teacher, or your spouse when they make you sorry about your favorite sin?

8.

Have you ever had the courage to hurt someone with truth in order to bring them to repentance? Are you willing to be hurt in return for hurt if it produces repentance? Why?

9.

Have you ever been sorry about a mistake without changing your thinking about it being a mistake?

10.

Do you think the church needs to change its thinking today about church discipline? Why? How?

11.

How would you suggest the church could institute a program for repentance today? What areas in congregational life need repentance?

12.

Are there places in your church that could be put at rest by repentance? People?

13.

Have you ever been emotionally touched by someone's obedience to Christ's word? What was it? How did you feel?

14.

Do you think a congregation obeying would have more impact on others than a church entertaining?

15.

Do you react with fear and trembling when God's messenger delivers a message of God about repentance to you?