2 Corinthians 7 - Introduction

He proceedeth in exhorting them to purity of life, and to bear him like affection as he doth to them. Whereof lest they might seem to doubt, he declareth what comfort he took in his afflictions, by the report which Titus gave of their godly sorrow which his former epistle had wrought in them, and of their loving kindness and obedience towards Titus, answerable to his former boastings of them.

Anno Domini 58.

LEST the Corinthians might fancy St. Paul had injured them by forbidding them to contract either marriages or friendships with infidels, and lest on that account they might lose their affection for him, he intreated them to acknowledge and love him as a faithful Apostle of Christ; since neither by his doctrine, nor by his actions, had he injured, or corrupted, or deceived any of them, 2 Corinthians 7:2.—And because, in thus speaking, he obliquely insinuated that their new teacher had done these injuries to them, he assured them, that he did not deride their simplicity, in suffering themselves to be so used: for, as he said before, he had the most cordial affection for them, 2 Corinthians 7:3.—But he spake freely to them, because he had boasted of their good dispositions, and because their obedience in excommunicating the incestuous person, had filled him with consolation, 2 Corinthians 7:4.

Farther, to make them sensible of the greatness of his joy on account of their obedience, he pathetically described his anxiety of mind, occasioned by his not meeting with Titus at the time he expected him, 2 Corinthians 7:5 and the pleasure which his arrival, with the good news of their submission and love, had given him, 2 Corinthians 7:6.—And as they had taken his admonitions in good part, he told them, he did not repent of having made them sorry for alittle while, by his former letter, 2 Corinthians 7:8.—since their sorrow was of a godly sort, and had wrought in them, through the grace of God, true repentance, 2 Corinthians 7:9.—He told them likewise, that he wrote to them to excommunicate the incestuous person, to shew the care which he took of them in the sight of God, 2 Corinthians 7:12.—For which reason, their kind reception of Titus, and their obedience, whereby he was made joyful and his spirit was refreshed, had comforted the Apostle, and filled himwith exceeding joy, 2 Corinthians 7:13.-And seeing before Titus went to Corinth, the Apostle had boasted to him of the good disposition of the Corinthians, he told them he was glad that his boasting was found true, 2 Corinthians 7:14.—In the last place, he informed them, that Titus entertained a most tender affection for them, which was increased by his remembering their obedience to the Apostle, and their kindness to himself, 2 Corinthians 7:15.—The Apostle, therefore, rejoiced that he now had confidence in them, in every thing, 2 Corinthians 7:16.