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 7:6

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Nevertheless He that comforteth the lowly comforted us by the coming of Titus." For since he had testified great things of them in what he said, that he may not seem to be flattering them he cites as witness Titus the brother, who had come from them to Paul after the first Epistle to declare unto him the particulars of their amendment. But consider, I pray you, how in every place he maketh a great matter of the coming of Titus. …

Homily 14 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Since he said much in praise of the Corinthians, he brings Titus as a witness. Who then "comforts the downcast"? God, he says. He also comforted us by sending us Titus; for his arrival was sufficient to dispel our sorrow. He also wishes to present this man to them as worthy of respect, which is why he ascribes great significance to his arrival.

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, But God, who comforts, he states the reason for his consolation, which he applauds from two aspects, namely, from the gratifying presence of Titus and from the consolation of Titus (v. 7). He says therefore: although we were gravely afflicted here, God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, whose presence was very pleasing and a great help to me: "Who comforts us in all our affliction" (2 Cor. 1:4). …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗