2 Corinthians 7:4-16 Lesson 348

2 Corinthians 7:4-16 Lesson 348

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

There is joy in tribulation.

After Titus' visit, the Corinthians repent (7:7-9).

Verse 7:4 ends the segment referred to as "Paul's major digression."
Paul now returns to the discussion of Titus and Corinth that he dropped in verse 2:13 (lesson 342).

By American artist Warner Sallman (1892 -1968)

Study Tip:

Make up chapter titles to describe the main topic in each passage.

The Second Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Corinthians

The King James Bible

2 Corinthians 7:4-16
Paul's joy

4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11For 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.

12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Margin notes:

"Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you." (7:4) - Paul is boasting about the Corinthians strong faith. See also verse 7:14.

"Without were fightings, within were fears." (7:5) - "Outside (the church) there was strife (with non-believers, false teachers, pagans, and Jews), inside there was fear." Conflicts with non-believers and fear can destroy a church (Deuteronomy 32:25). Paul was fearful that he had lost the Corinthians.

"God, that comforteth those that are cast down." (7:6) - "God, who comforts those who are troubled or discouraged" (Isaiah 49:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

"Comforted us by the coming of Titus." (7:6) - Paul and his group were comforted by Titus' news that the church in Corinth had repented. Paul's last letter, often referred to as the "tearful letter" (2:3-4), rebuked the Corinthians, but led to their repentance. In all, Paul wrote four letters to Corinth. Two are in the Bible (1 and 2 Corinthians). The "tearful letter" and one other are lost forever.

"He told us your earnest desire." (7:7) - Titus told Paul that the Corinthians accepted his teachings.

"Your mourning." (7:7) - The Corinthians were in mourning because they had sinned.

"Your fervent mind toward me." (7:7) -
"Your zeal for me."

"I made you sorry with a letter." (7:8) - Again, Paul is referring to his lost "tearful letter" to Corinth.

"I do not repent, though I did repent." (7:8) - "I'm not sorry (for writing the letter), although I was sorry for a while."

"The same epistle." (7:8) - "The same letter."

"But for a season." (7:8) - "But for a short time."

"That ye might receive damage by us in nothing." (7:9) - "So that you were not hurt by us in any way."

"Godly sorrow worketh repentance." (7:10) - Godly sorrow leads to repentance. See "Today's Question" below.

"The sorrow of the world." (7:10) - This is the type of sorrow felt after losing money, a job, or a friend.

"This selfsame thing." (7:11) - "This very thing."

"What carefulness it wrought in you." (7:11) - "What thoroughness (in obeying God) it created in you."

"What indignation." (7:11) - "What anger (at oneself for sinning)."

"What vehement desire." (7:11) - "What alarm."

"I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong." (7:12) - "I didn't do it for the sake of the man who did wrong." Paul is possibly referring to the Corinthian who married his father's wife (1 Corinthians 5:1; 5:9) and how the church excepted it.

"The joy of Titus." (7:13) - This refers to the joy Paul felt when Titus told him of the Corinthian's repentance.

"For if I have boasted any thing to him of you." (7:14) - Paul told Titus that Corinthian Christians were devout and open to doctrinal teachings. See also 7:4.

"Inward affection." (7:15) - "Inner affection."

"With fear and trembling ye received him." (7:15) - The Corinthians initially received Titus with trepidation because he carried a stern letter from Paul (1 Corinthians 5:3-5).

New Living Translation

2 Corinthians 7:4-16
Paul's Joy at the Church's Repentance

4 I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.

5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.

6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 7 His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!

8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.

10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 12 My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us.

13 We have been greatly encouraged by this.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. 14 I had told him how proud I was of you-and you didn't disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true!

15 Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. 16 I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What does "Godly sorrow worketh repentance" mean? (7:10)




"My sins, my sins, my Saviour, How sad on Thee they fall."

By the Irish Anglican Clergyman and poet John Monsell (1811-1875).

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance," is when we feel such a profound sadness after committing a sin that we repent.  Feeling sorry for sinning is not repentance, but it can lead to a change in attitude, which leads to repentance. Repentance requires an inner conviction that the sin was truly wrong and offended God. When the shame and disappointment in ourselves is great enough to cause true repentance, then it can be said that "sorrow worketh repentance."



Application thought for the day:

What did you learn about joy and tribulation in this segment?
How can you apply that lesson to your life?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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