INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 7 This chapter begins with an inference deduced, from what is said in the latter part of the foregoing chapter, engaging to holiness of heart and life, in opposition to filthiness of flesh and spirit, 2 Corinthians 7:1 and the apostle, in order to prevail upon the Cori... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING THEREFORE THESE PROMISES,.... That God will walk in his temple, and dwell in his churches, be their God, and they his people, that he will receive them, and be their Father, and they his sons and daughters; which promises they had not in hope, as Old Testament saints had the promises of the M... [ Continue Reading ]
RECEIVE US,.... Into your affections, let us have a place in your hearts, as you have in ours: Gospel ministers ought to be received with love and respect, both into the hearts and houses of the saints; for "he that receiveth you", says Christ, "receiveth me", Matthew 10:40. Their doctrines are to b... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK NOT THIS TO CONDEMN YOU,.... Referring either to the exhortations before given, to have no sinful conversation with unbelievers, and to cleanse themselves from all impurity, external and internal; and to go on in a course of holiness, in the fear of God, to the end of life; or to the account... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT IS MY BOLDNESS OF SPEECH TOWARDS YOU,.... Or "liberty of speaking", which I use with you; I very freely, and without any disguise, open my mind to you; I faithfully tell you your faults; I am free in my exhortations and counsels to you, as in the case of the incestuous person, and in other ins... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN WE WERE COME INTO MACEDONIA,.... Whither Paul went in quest of Titus, not finding him at Troas, 2 Corinthians 2:12 and where he met with him, and had the agreeable account from him of the state of this church; but here, as elsewhere, they had their troubles: OUR FLESH HAD NO REST; that is,... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS, GOD THAT COMFORTETH THOSE THAT ARE CAST DOWN,.... Or "humble ones": such as are humbled under the afflicting hand of God, and have low and mean apprehensions of themselves; these God looks unto, dwells with, revives their hearts, cheers their drooping spirits, and fills them with comfo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT BY HIS COMING ONLY,.... It was not barely by his coming, that he and his fellow ministers were so much comforted: BUT BY THE CONSOLATION WHEREWITH HE WAS COMFORTED IN YOU. The church at Corinth received Titus with all respect and reverence; treated him in the most kind and tender manner; sa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOUGH I MADE YOU SORRY WITH A LETTER,.... His former epistle, relating to the incestuous person: I DO NOT REPENT, THOUGH I DID REPENT; not of writing the letter, which was wrote by divine inspiration; but of the sorrow occasioned by it, though now he did not repent of that: FOR I PERCEIVE THA... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I REJOICE, NOT THAT YE WERE MADE SORRY,.... Their grief and sorrow, as a natural passion, was no matter or cause of joy to him; nor was this what he sought after, being what he could take no real pleasure in; for so far as that was a pain to them, it was a pain to him: BUT THAT YE SORROWED TO R... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE UNTO SALVATION,.... These words contain a reason, proving that they had received no damage, but profit by the sorrow that had possessed them, from the nature of it, a "godly" sorrow; a sorrow which had God for its author; it did not arise from the power of free wi... [ Continue Reading ]
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 e... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, THOUGH L WROTE UNTO YOU,.... Meaning in his former epistle, with so much sharpness and severity, and as may have been thought too much: I DID IT NOT FOR HIS CAUSE THAT HAD DONE THE WRONG; not for the sake of the incestuous person only and chiefly, not merely for his correction and restor... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WE WERE COMFORTED IN YOUR COMFORT,.... In the comfortable situation the church was in; not in their grief and sorrow, as a natural passion, but in the effects of it as a godly sorrow; by which it appeared that their repentance was genuine, and that they were clear in the matter that had gi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF I HAVE BOASTED ANYTHING TO HIM OF YOU,.... As of their faith in Christ, of their liberality to the saints, their affection for him, and obedience to him as children to a father: I AM NOT ASHAMED; since these all appeared to be true; as he must have been had they been otherwise: BUT AS WE SP... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS INWARD AFFECTION IS MORE ABUNDANT TOWARD YOU,.... Or "his bowels"; denoting the tenderness of his heart, the strength of his affections, which inwardly and to a very great degree moved towards them; especially WHILST HE REMEMBERETH THE OBEDIENCE OF YOU ALL; to him, and to me by him; to the... [ Continue Reading ]
I REJOICE THEREFORE THAT I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU IN ALL THINGS. That I can speak freely and boldly to you, reprove, admonish, and advise you, since you take it all in good part, as I design it; that I can confidently speak in your favour, boast of your love and obedience, which is found upon trial... [ Continue Reading ]