CHAPTER
VII
THE EFFECT
OF PAUL’S FIRST LETTER AT CORINTH
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Summary—Paul’s Freedom of Speech to the Corinthians. His Anxiety
Until Titus Came. The Consolation of the News from Corinth. His Letter Produced
Sorrow; Then Repentance. His Severe Words not Due to Ill-Will for the Offender,
nor for Them, but to Lead Them to Clearing Themselves.
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1. Having therefore these promises. Those named in the 17th and 18th verses of the preceding
chapter. This verse is properly in that connection, and should not have been
separated by the chapter division. Let us cleanse ourselves. See 6:17
above. From all filthiness of the flesh. All sensual sins, such as those
to which the Corinthians were addicted. And of the spirit. The spirit of
a man is defiled by such sins as those named in Gal. 5:19–21. Perfecting
holiness. Every Christian in purifying himself should strive for greater
holiness and constantly seek to attain to the ideal of which Christ is the
example.
2–4. Receive us.
Make room in your hearts for us and our admonitions. Compare 6:11–13. We
wronged no man. In the severe charges of his first letter. We corrupted
no man. Probably this is an answer to the vile insinuations of his
adversaries at Corinth. 3. I say not this to condemn you. I do not
accuse you of making these charges against me. Yet he knew well that they had
been made by Judaizers and others at Corinth. I have said before. See
6:11, 12. What follows is an expression of undying affection. 4. Great is
my boldness of speech, etc. This verse declares that he is overflowing with
joyful feeling. The next section explains its cause.
5–7. For when we were come into Macedonia. He first came from Ephesus to Troas (2:12), and expected
to meet Titus there with word from Corinth concerning the effect of his first
letter. Not meeting him, he went on to Macedonia in great distress of mind. Our
flesh had no rest. Compare with this 2:13. Without were fightings.
Conflicts with enemies of Christ. Within were fears. Lest the church at
Corinth might make shipwreck. 6. Nevertheless God … comforted us by the
coming of Titus. Titus brought to him the joyful news of repentance and
reformation at Corinth. This news turned his affliction to joy. 7. Not by
his coming only. He rejoiced to meet again a well-beloved fellow laborer,
but rejoiced still more over the news which he brought. Your earnest desire.
To cleanse themselves from fault. Your mourning. Over the reproof of
their sins. Your fervent mind toward me. Affection for and zeal to
please me.
8–11. I do not repent.
“Regret,” as in the Revision. The Greek word rendered repent in this
verse, is not the one rendered repentance in verses 9 and 10. The
Revision preserves the distinction throughout. His first letter made them
sorry, and at one time he regretted sending it, because he feared it would not
work the result he wished, but since it had, he did not regret that he sent it.
9. Now I rejoice. Not because they were made sorry, but that their
sorrow brought repentance. Observe, (1) that regret is not repentance; (2) that
sorrow is not repentance; (3) that godly sorrow (verse 10) works repentance,
or, in other words, repentance results from godly sorrow, or sorrowing in a way
pleasing to God. 10. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be
repented of. The steps are (1) godly sorrow; (2) repentance as a result of
godly sorrow; (3) salvation secured by repentance; (4) this effect of repentance
is never regretted. See Revision. The difference of repentance from sorrow and
regret is seen when we bear in mind that it means the change of mind and heart
wrought by godly sorrow for sin. The state implied by repentance always leads
to a change of life. The Common Version here and elsewhere has made confusion
by translating two Greek words which mean different things by the same English
term. One, rendered by the Revision “regret,” is found in Matt. 27:3, 5;
the other, properly rendered “repent,” is found in Acts 2:38. The sorrow
of the world. Not godly sorrow, but remorse. The sorrow of Judas was
remorse. In the case of many besides Judas, it has resulted in despair, which
has led to destruction of life, or to eternal death. 11. For behold this
self-same thing. Here is proof that they “sorrowed after a godly sort.”
They repented and brought forth the fruits of repentance. What earnest care.
No indifference any longer. What clearing of yourselves. From all
responsibility for the sins of the incestuous person (1 Cor. 5:1, 2; 2 Cor.
2:6–8). What indignation. Against the deed that disgraced the church. What
revenge. What punishment of the offense committed.
12–16. Though I wrote unto you, etc. The language that follows in this verse has caused some
confusion. Paul evidently means to say that he did not write his stern charge,
in 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, so much on account of the wrong doer, the
incestuous person, nor on account of the person he had injured (his father), as
to manifest his earnest care for the welfare of the church. 13. Therefore we
were comforted in your comfort. He still pours forth his joy over the happy
change in the church, a joy due to his great affection for it. 14. For if I
have boasted anything to him of you. If he had done so, their prompt
repentance showed that his boasting was well founded. 15. And his inward
affection, etc. He had not been received with distrust or coldness or
stubborn disobedience, but in a humble and repentant Christian spirit, which
had greatly increased his affection. 16. I rejoice therefore that I have
confidence in you. Rather, that I am greatly encouraged concerning you.
Excerpt from:
The People's New Testament
by Barton
Warren Johnson
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