CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He declares his love, sincerity, and his confidence in the Corinthians. II. He declares (ver. 6) his joy at their repentance and amendment. III. He states (ver. 10) the signs and acts of true repentance. IV. He names (ver. 13) Titus as his witness for the re... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more_. I was before saddened through your divisions and other sins, but when I saw and heard of your desire to amend, your penitence for your sins, and your zeal to protect me against all detract... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye sorrowed to repentance._ This sorrow led you to repentance, to mourning (ver. 7), to indignation and revenge (ver. 11). Repentance, therefore, is not merely a coming to one's self again, as I will show directly by several proofs.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For gladly sorrow worketh repentance._ Observe 1. that the Apostle here distinguishes two kinds of sorrow, one according to God, and one of the world. The sorrow of the world, or carnal sorrow, is that which springs from loss of excessively loved worldly goods as when wealth or pleasures are lost,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though I wrote unto you, I did it not_, &c. He who suffered wrong was the father whose wife the incestuous man had taken to himself. Hence it is evident that the father was alive. The Apostle says in effect: In the former Epistle I wrote somewhat sharply, but I did not mean to avenge the private in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore we were comforted._ By your repentance, zeal, &c., as was said (vers. 6, 7, 9, 11). The Latin version points this verse as follows: "Before God, therefore, we were comforted. But in our comfort we joyed the more," &c. If with some Greek copies we read "in your comfort," S. Paul refers to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even so our boasting which I made before Titus is found a truth._ I am accustomed to boast to him of you as good disciples, and you have proved my boasting true. VER. 16. _I have confidence in you in all things._ I dare to speak and act boldly with you, whether in the way of praise or blame. You ar... [ Continue Reading ]