Fathers

2 Corinthians 7

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Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction. For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For though I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you grieve, though just for a while. I now rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God. Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him. I rejoice that in everything I am confident concerning you.

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What the Fathers say

2 Corinthians 7:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Therefore we have been comforted." Since we both showed our care for you and have been wholly successful. As he said also in another place, "Now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord;" and again, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye?" For this is life, this comfort, this consolation to a teacher possessed of understanding; the growth of his disciples. For nothing doth so declare him that beareth rule as paternal affection for the ruled. …

Homily 15 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

I showed my care for you, and my hopes did not deceive me; therefore, he says, I was greatly comforted. Now to the consolation with which you consoled me, as I said, a great joy was added — the joy of Titus. And this joy and consolation is on your account and for your sake.

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then he concludes to the joy he had at their correction when he says, therefore we were comforted. As if to say: because I obtained this from writing to you, namely, that you are corrected, therefore, we were comforted, i.e., we took comfort. For a man is joyful when he obtains what he desired and intended: "But by the grace of God" (2 Cor. 1:12). Then when he says, and besides our own comfort, he states the second cause of his comfort, which is taken from the devotion they showed to Titus. In regard to this he does three things. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗