(Chap. 7:6-16)
Chap. 7:6-16—With things being cleared away on both sides, there was now no reason for any estrangement between Paul and the Corinthians. They had no reason not to receive him, and he had no reason now not to come to them.
In verse 5, Paul picks up the historical thread of things from which he had digressed in chapter 2:14. He praises the Corinthians for their right spirit in receiving the letter he had sent.
Vss. 6-7—Paul speaks of his anxiety being relieved by the favourable report of Titus, but he gives the credit to God. “God, that comforteth [encourages] those that are cast down, comforted [encouraged] us by the coming of Titus.” Titus reported the genuine “earnest desire” and “mourning” of the Corinthians. This shows that they had truly been exercised about the wrongs in the assembly and had mourned in repentance about it, and had set them right. This was good. Another source of joy for Paul was that, except for a faction of detractors, they had a “fervent mind” toward him. This showed that they had taken his correction in a right spirit, and desired to be reconciled to the Apostle.
Vss. 8-10—We see how tender Paul’s heart was toward the Corinthians; he almost apologizes for writing the letter. But in retrospect, he says that though he had “grieved” them “with the letter,” he did not “regret” it now because it had produced these positive results. But he admits that after he had written the letter that he had second thoughts, and actually, for a time, he had “regretted it.” We see his tender care for them in this hesitation. He recognizes that the grief he had caused in writing that severe letter was “but for a season.” Hence, the first epistle brought about two things in the Corinthians:
Repentance as to the evils Paul had denounced.
A revival of their affection (in part) for the Apostle.
In setting things right, the Corinthians had delivered themselves from being “injured” by Paul’s apostolic judgment that would have come down on them (vs. 9). As an assembly, they “sorrowed to repentance” (vs. 10). This was a collective sorrow and a collective repentance. This shows that sorrow and repentance are two different things. Godly sorrow is grief over sin allowed or committed. Repentance is to have a changed mind about a course of sin that we have pursued and to pass judgment on it.
Paul says that this repentance that led the Corinthians to correct the disorders in the assembly was “to salvation.” That is, it brought about a practical deliverance or salvation from the judgment of God on the assembly. By setting things right, they saved the assembly from judgment. Paul adds, “Not to be repented of,” because their change of mind toward what is right was not to be turned from. Once we have turned toward what is right, we should never think of repenting (changing our minds) of it and going back.
Scripture says, “There is joy before the angels of God for one repenting sinner” (Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)). Although the context of this verse in the gospel of Luke has to do with the repentance in a person getting saved, it shows that repentance is not a one-time thing, but an on-going exercise in the believer's life. Confession is an act, but repentance is a process. This does not mean that we are to go around beating ourselves up in sorrow for the rest of our lives, because repentance and sorrow are two different things. What is to be on-going in our lives is a changed mind toward all sin that we once pursued. It is repentance, not sorrow that should be on-going in our lives. In the case of the Corinthians, if they ceased to repent concerning this matter, it would mean that they would again become indifferent toward sin in their midst.
While godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, worldly sorrow, which is not of God, only “works death.” That is, it works to the moral ruin of an individual. The former feels sorrow because of guilt, and it leads to self-judgment; the latter is not true sorrow for sin, but grief for having to suffer the effects of one’s sinful deeds (Matt. 14:99And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. (Matthew 14:9)). One is repentance; the other is remorse. The difference between them is illustrated in Peter and Judas. Peter went out and “wept bitterly” in true repentance (Matt. 26:7575And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75)), but Judas was “filled with remorse” (Matt. 27:33Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3)). One led to restoration to God, the other to suicide and a lost eternity.
Seven Things That Proved That Their Collective Repentance Was According to God
Vs. 11—The fruits of repentance with the Corinthians were all good. This is seen in seven things that Paul mentions. He says:
“What carefulness”—they manifested a care for the Lord’s glory in excommunicating the wicked person in their midst.
“What clearing of yourselves”—their act cleared the assembly of its complicity with the sin.
“What indignation”—their genuine hatred of the sin.
“What fear”—their fear of God’s holiness.
“What vehement desire”—their desire to vindicate God.
“What zeal”—their eagerness to act for the Lord in the matter.
“What revenge”—their readiness to see justice done.
Vss. 12-13—The Corinthians had proved their “zeal” for God in acting to correct matters in the assembly by excommunicating the offender (vs. 11), but that was not the only reason why Paul had written to them. He says that the situation was also an opportunity for them to show their “zeal for us”—he and those who laboured with him (vs. 12 – J. N. Darby Trans. footnote). He tells them that he didn’t write to merely secure the discipline of the offender or vindicate the one offended, but that they would take that golden opportunity to show that they really cared for Paul’s love and fellowship, and be reconciled to him. Thus, the rupture in the practical fellowship among the members of the body of Christ would be healed. When Titus came and reported that the first letter had been received and acted on, Paul realized that both objectives had been secured—their zeal for God and their zeal for him. Hence, he says, “For this reason we have been encouraged.” More than that, when Paul and those with him saw the joy of Titus, they were “exceedingly the more joyed.”
Vss. 14-16—In bringing the subject to a close, Paul applies the towel of comfort to the Corinthians after washing their feet in the whole matter (John 13:55After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (John 13:5)). He now tells them that, in retrospect, he was “not ashamed” that he had told Titus beforehand of his confidence in the Corinthians—to the point that he boasted to Titus that they would receive the rebuke in his first letter. Now he says, “Our boasting, which I made before to Titus, is found a truth.” Paul had told Titus that they would receive and act on it, and thus, on the strength of this, he encouraged Titus to accept the delicate mission of going to Corinth. Titus too, was deeply affected by their “obedience.”
The happy ending to the whole matter is found in Paul’s words, “I have confidence in you in all things.” The genuineness of their affection for Paul caused them to reach this happy conclusion of repentance, proved by their setting right the things that were wanting in the assembly. The breach between the Corinthians and Paul was healed, as far as he was concerned.
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