2 Corinthians 7:13-16

Applebury's Comments

The Joy of Titus
Scripture

2 Corinthians 7:13, 2 Corinthians 7:13. and in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hat been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titue was found to be truth. 15 And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.

Comments

for the joy of Titus.The magnanimous spirit of Paul is shown in the attitude that he had toward his fellow-workers such as Titus and Timothy. Not only did he write of his own joy at the outcome of the situation in Corinth, but pointed out that he was particularly happy over the joy of Titus because of the manner in which the Corinthians had received him. They had joined in refreshing his spirit. He may have had some misgiving as to the effect of his mission, but the Corinthians had dispelled all doubt about it by the manner in which they received him.

For if in anything I have gloried to him.The unselfishness of Paul is manifested in his attitude toward the Corinthians for he did not hesitate to boast about their willingness to respond to the inspired instruction which he had written to them. After receiving the report of Titus he could say, I was not put to shame. What he had said about them to Titus had been found to be the truth.

And his affection.The generous affection which Paul had for the Corinthians was shared also by Titus. He remembered how they had obeyed the instruction of Paul. They had received him with utmost concern lest they fall short of complete obedience to it.

I am of good courage concerning you.The battle had been won. Paul had suffered great anxiety over the situation at Corinth. He had rebuked sin. He had plead earnestly that they make room for him in their affections. Now triumphantly, having achieved the victory, he could say, I am of good courage concerning you.-'

Summary

In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul draws a conclusion from the principles he had just stated in the preceding one. God had called upon His people to separate themselves from every unclean thing and had promised those who did so that He would be their God and they His people. He would be their Father and they His sons and daughters. While Isaiah had written this to Israel, Paul clearly indicates that the same would be true of the Christians at Corinth if they cleansed themselves from those things that were besmearing their lives and defiling their souls. They were to separate themselves from everything that defiles their flesh and spiritthe whole being. Nothing short of complete separation from sin and dedication to a life of purity before God would satisfy the conditions upon which God was to be their Father and they His children.
Paul's concern for the church at Corinth led him to a deep and stirring appeal for them to accept him into their hearts and lives as a guest who was to remain with them. He was the kind of person as their father in the gospel whom they could receive in this manner. They were in his heart to live and to die.
Paul unhesitatingly spoke of his pride in the church at Corinth. In times of distress, the memory of Corinth brought him comfort; in times of sorrow, the thought of them brought him overflowing joy. He suffered in Macedonia, for he had not rest for his flesh. What hardships these were, he does not say, but they were in all probability the results of persecutions from those who everywhere sought to undermine his work of Christ. There were conflicts accompanied by fears. But when he found Titus in Macedonia and learned of their obedient response to the epistle he had written, he was comforted. God who always led him in triumph also comforted him when he was depressed.
This brought him to the discussion of the effect of the letter he had written (First Corinthians). He did not regret writing it, but he did regret that their sins had led to the rebuke that caused them to be made sorry for a while. But he rejoiced that this sorrow had led to repentance, and repentance to salvation. How different the sorrow of the world, for it led to death. Paul could rejoice that they had been saved from such a death. God's purpose in sorrow had led them to change their ways and punish the sinner in their midst. Respect and reverence for God led them to refuse to be mixed up with sinners who practiced things which the Father would not tolerate. They longed for the purity that He praised and zealously sought the life of righteousness in Christ. Paul could give them a clean bill of health, for they were innocent of any further wrongdoing. This was the very purpose of the letter, for it was not for the sake of the offender nor offended, but that they might all show their earnest concern for the things of God.
Titus had told Paul of the wonderful welcome he had received in Corinth. Paul had boasted to him about the kind of people he would find in the church at Corinth, basically good and willing to obey the Word of God. He had not been put to shame, for Titus had found them to be just what Paul had said. Titus had been deeply moved by the warmth of their welcome. Paul rejoiced that he had been able to depend on them.