Bible Commentaries

Are made to us. "Since God makes us all these promises, we ought to jump into action!" Let us purify. "Since we are God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), we must make ourselves pure by separating ourselves from everything that makes body or soul unclean!" Body and soul form a unity, and the sin that makes one unclean, also makes the other unclean. Some claimed that the soul was untouched by the guilt of sin which the body committed. Fear = reverence, respect, and includes obedience.

Make room. It is not possible for the Corinthians and Paul to be friends as long as they listen to the slander of the false teachers against him! but THEY must act to make room in their hearts for Paul and the other true servants of Christ! Done wrong to no one. Paul is thinking about the painful letter. 2 Corinthians 7:12 implies that someone at Corinth led a rebellion against Paul. Paul's letter must have touched a sore spot. Ruined no one. The false teachers may have accused Paul of ruining people by his teaching and his example. Perhaps they felt he had ruined them!!! To take advantage. This implies that some had accused him of draining the church treasury. See 2 Corinthians 12:17.

I do not say this. "I do not say this to condemn you for allowing yourselves to be misled by the false teachers, or to stir up past problems! As I said before, we have opened wide our hearts to you! Our fellowship in Christ is too important to allow anything to destroy it!!!"

So sure of you! The news from Titus has made him jubilant!!! See 2 Corinthians 7:6.

Even after. Note that Paul picks up the thought he dropped in 2 Corinthians 2:13. When Titus did not meet Paul at Troas, he may have been afraid that Corinth had rejected his letter and that some special problem kept Titus there. Paul also faced opposition from unbelievers, as he always seemed to do.

But God. Note how Paul always gives God the credit for what happens! How happy it made Paul to hear the good news about improved conditions at Corinth !!!

But also his report. Titus may have had doubts about his mission to Corinth, knowing the problems which Paul had in the painful visit (2 Corinthians 2:1). He was much encouraged to learn the improved attitude of the Corinthians! To see me. They sincerely wanted him to be with them! How sorry. They deeply regretted their past actions! Compare 2 Corinthians 7:10. To defend me. They still had deep feelings for Paul, and were ready to take his part against the false teachers! Even happier. If the arrival of Titus made Paul happy, the good report made him even happier!

If that letter. The letter of 2 Corinthians 2:4. I am not sorry. "It was necessary that I write this strongly worded letter to you!" I could have been sorry. "Please don't think it made me happy to humiliate you! It made me sad to do it, but it was for your own good."

But because. "Here is why I am happy: it made you change your ways!" Was used by God. 2 Corinthians 7:10 explains this.

For the sadness. "God is able to use the sadness that regrets actions which were contrary to God, to change our heart and bring us to himself! The Corinthians were sad because their actions against Paul had also been against God. Change our heart = repent = turn from sin to God. Worldly sadness. This produces only guilt, and does not change our hearts. Contrast Peter and Judas. Peter regretted his action in denying Jesus, and God used this to make him repent. Judas regretted the results of his action, and the Devil used this guilt to drive him to suicide! Some make the mistake of trying to drive people to God by using the guilt of worldly sadness!

See what God did! Paul gives God the credit for the change of heart which the Corinthian Christians have made. Paul examines the signs which show that they have repented of past sins. Repent = reform! Innocence! They clear themselves by doing as Paul had instructed. Indignation! Probably toward the chief troublemaker (2 Corinthians 2:5). Alarm! They were a little afraid of what Paul might do to them. Compare Acts 13:11. Feelings! They deeply wanted to restore their friendship with Paul. Devotion! They were ready now to protect Paul's honor and reputation. To punish! Their zeal to punish the one who had insulted Paul was so strong, in fact, that it was necessary to ask them to forgive the man (2 Corinthians 2:5-8). You have shown yourselves. They did not argue with Paul's demands, but demonstrated their faith by their action.

It was not. "I do not want you to misunderstand why I wrote that letter. Although it may have seemed harsh, there was no thought of taking revenge." Instead. "I wrote to test you (2 Corinthians 2:9) and to make you yourselves AWAKE of how you actually felt in this matter! This crisis could only be resolved when you demonstrated your love and devotion for me as a true apostle."

That is why. Paul is much encouraged by the evidence of repentance which the Corinthians have demonstrated! Titus. Both Titus and Paul are servants of the same Lord! When Titus was made happy, Paul was made happy also!

I did boast of you. After the painful visit of 2 Corinthians 2:1, it may surprise us that Paul would boast of them. But Paul's love for them looks beyond the moment, and sees the good! Some let present problems blind them to the real value of a person. Paul did not do that!!!

And so his love. Titus remembers well their spirit of faith!!!

How happy! They have passed the test! Compare 2 Corinthians 7:4.

Note: Chapters 8-9 are the most complete discussion of Christian giving in the New Testament. Galatians 2:1-10 implies a working-agreement between the Jewish and Gentile churches. This showed a new spirit among the Christians (see Acts 11:29). The Christians in Judea may have suffered more money problems than those in other areas (compare note on Acts 2:44-45). Probably the persecution was more severe. More than one gift of money was taken to the poor Christians in Judea. Almost a year had passed since Paul asked the Corinthians to contribute to this need (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:10), but they have not fulfilled their commitment. Paul is obviously concerned about the Christian poor in Judea, but he also sees this as an opportunity to unify more strongly, the Gentile and Jewish elements of the church of Christ !