2 Corinthians 7:11

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Confirmation of 2 Corinthians 7:10 from the Corinthians' own experience. CAREFULNESS - solicitude [ spoudeen (G4710)], 'diligence:' opposed to their past negligence. IN YOU - so C G g, Vulgate. But B Delta 'Aleph (') omit "in:" 'for you.' YEA - not only "carefulness," BUT ALSO [ alla (G243)] "clearing of (apology for) yours...

11._What earnest desire it produced in you _I shall not enter into any dispute as to whether the things that Paul enumerates are effects of repentance, or belong to it, or are preparatory to it, as all this is unnecessary for understanding Paul’s design, for he simply proves the repentance of the Corinthians from its signs, or accompaniments. At the same time he makes _sorrow according to God _to be the source of all these things, inasmuch as they spring from it — which is assuredly the case; for when we have begun to feel self-dissatisfaction, we are afterwards stirred up to seek after the other things. What is meant by _earnest desire, _we may understand from what is opposed to it; for so long as there is no apprehension of sin, we lie drowsy and inactive. Hence drowsiness or carelessness, or unconcern, (646) stands opposed to that _earnest desire, _that he makes mention of. Accordingl...

5-11 There were fightings without, or continual contentions with, and opposition from Jews and Gentiles; and there were fears within, and great concern for such as had embraced the Christian faith. But God comforts those who are cast down. We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, to God, as the author of all the consolation and good we enjoy. Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the Spirit of God, renders the heart humble, contrite, submissive, disposed to mortify every sin, and to walk in newness of life. And this repentance is connected with saving faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort, and the sorrow of the world. The happy fruits of true repentance are mentioned. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed. It wrought indigna...

Verse 2 Corinthians 7:11. _WHAT CAREFULNESS IT WROUGHT IN YOU_] Carefulness of obeying my directions, 2 Corinthians 7:15; _yea_, what _clearing of yourselves_ from guilt by inflicting censures on the guilty person, and putting away evil from among you, 1 Corinthians 5:13; _yea, what indignation_ against him who had dishonoured his profession, and defiled the Church; _yea, what fear_ of my displeasure, and the _rod_ which I threatened, 1 Corinthians 4:21; _yea, what vehement desire_ to rectify what was amiss in this matter,...

FOR BEHOLD THIS SELF-SAME THING - For see in your own case the happy effects of godly sorrow. See the effects which it produced; see an illustration of what it is suited to produce. The construction is, “For lo! this very thing, to wit, your sorrowing after a godly manner, wrought carefulness, clearing of yourselves,” etc. The object of Paul is to illustrate the effects of godly sorrow, to which he had referred in 2 Corinthians 7:10. He appeals, therefore, to their own case, and says that it was beautifully illustrated among themselves. WHAT CAREFULNESS - (σπουδήν spoudēn). This word properly denotes “speed, haste;” then diligence, earnest effort, forwardness. Here it is evidently used to denote the diligence and the great anxiety which they manifested

EXPOSITION Conclusion of his appeal (2 Corinthians 7:1). The apostle's feelings towards them (2 Corinthians 7:2). Explanation of the objects of his last letter, and expression of his joy at the good results it had brought about (2 Corinthians 7:2). 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 HAVING THEN THESE PROMISES. The promises of God's indwelling and fatherly love (2 Corinthians 6:16). DEARLY BELOVED. Perhaps the word is added to soften the ster

FOR BEHOLD, THIS SELFSAME THING, THAT YE SORROWED AFTER A GODLY SORT,.... The apostle proceeds to describe godly sorrow by its effects, which are so many evidences of the sincerity and genuineness of it; some of the things mentioned are peculiar to the case of the Corinthians, and others common to evangelical repentance in any: WHAT CAREFULNESS IT WROUGHT IN YOU; to remove the incestuous person from communion with them, which they were very negligent of before; to sin no more after this sort; to keep up, for the future, a more strict and regular discipline in the church; to perform good works in general, and not to offend God: YEA, WHAT CLEARING OF YOURSELVES; not by denying the fact, or lessening, or defending it; but by acknowledging their neglect, praying it might be overlooked, declaring that they were not partakers of the sin; nor did they approve of it, but disliked and abhorred...

8. THE APOSTLE'S EXHORTATIONS AND REJOICINGS. CHAPTER 6:14-7 _ 1. His Exhortations. (2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1 .)_ 2. His Rejoicing and Confidence. (2 Corinthians 7:2 .) The first exhortation is to separation from evil, without which no true fellowship with God can be enjoyed. It is one of the most important exhortations in the Pauline epistles, and greatly needed in our days of laxity and worldliness among Christians. God calls His people to holiness. “But as He who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” He has separated us from the world which lieth in the wicked one

AGONISING ANXIETY HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY ABUNDANT JOY. The cause of his anxiety had been in part the condition of affairs in the church at Corinth, but even more the measures he had taken to deal with it, followed by torturing doubt as to how these would be received by the Corinthians. Someone had behaved outrageously. Someone had been outraged. There can be no doubt that it was Paul who had suffered, though whether he was personally present or what was the nature of the outrage we cannot tell. What made it serious was that the Corinthians had not repudiated the insult to their friend. Stung by their fickleness, and moved by fear lest they should fall away altogether from himself and the gospel, Paul had written a letter so severe that from the moment he despatched it, probably by the hand of Titus, he was torn with anxiety lest it should have the very opposite effect to what he desired....

GET YOU OUT (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ; 2 Corinthians 7:1) 7:1 Do not allow yourselves to become joined in an alien yoke with unbelievers. What partnership can there be between righteousness and lawlessness? What fellowship can darkness have with light? What concord can there be with Christ and Belial? What share can the believer have with the unbeliever? What agreement can the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, even as God said, "I will dwell in them and I will walk in them, and I will be their God and they will be my people." Therefore, "Come out from among them and separate yourselves," the Lord says, "and, have no contact with impurity, and I will receive you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters