2 Corinthians 7
Dort1 The Apostle from the former promises of God, draws a new exhortation to sanctification, 2 and again apologizeth for his inclination towards them, yea even in the midst of all tribulations, and assures himself also of theirs towards him, 6 in which opinion he is more strengthened by the coming and testimony of Titus. 8 And although by his serious reproof he had before grieved them, yet he acknowledgeth that nevertheless this grief was a grief according to God, which he reproves by the fruits of the same grief, 13 and by the joy of Titus after his return. 14 who had found all things so with them, even as the Apostle had been confident of them.
1. Seeing then we have these promises, [Namely, whereof is spoken in the end of the former chapter] beloved, let us purify our selves from all defilements of the flesh and of the spirit, [that is, of the body and of the soul: as who dome idolatry etc. defile both body and soul. See 1 Cor. 6.22.] finishing sanctification [that is, accomplishing it more by bringing forth of the fruits of the same. See John 15.ver.1.2.] in the fear of God.
2. Give us place; [That is, give place to our exhortation. Or give place in your hearts, as we do you in ours. See before chapter 6.ver.11,12,13.] we have wronged no man, [namely, by desire of domination over you] we have corrupted no man, [namely, by false doctrine or evil examples] we have not sought our own advantage by any man. [namely, by flatteries to have gain of you. See of the propriety of this word chapter 2.v.10. And these are the three faults, whereby withal he describes the false Apostles.]
3. I say not (this) for (your) condemnation. [Namely, as if ye had been unthankful of unfaithful towards me. Or as if I complained of you: but (he would say) to stop the mouth of the false Apostles, who seek to render me suspected unto you, and show my care of you as is declared ver.12.] For I have said before, that ye are in our hearts, to die together and live together. [A phrase whereby is expressed greatest love and favour towards any man; namely, that he is ready to live and die with him.]
4. I have much boldness in speaking towards you, I have much glorying of you: I am filled comfort I am very abundant in joy, in all our tribulation.
5. For also when we came into Macedonia, our flesh [That is, our body. Not that the soul hath not its part also in tribulations, but because persecutions are most executed upon the outward man, and in the meanwhile God oftentimes refresheth and comforts the Spirit] had no rest, but we were afflicted in every thing: from without was strife, [namely, which was procured to us by the Gentiles and Jews, which were without the Church] from within fear. [namely, through the care we had concerning the troubles which were risen within the Church, 2 Cor. 11.v.28.29. See the like phrase 1 Cor. 5.v.12.]
6. But God hath comforted the lowly, comforted us by the coming of Titus. [Namely, who strengthened us against the persecution from without by his presence, and better informed us of the state of your Church from within, and your inclination unto us, as the following verse declares.]
7. And not only by his coming, also by the consolation, with which he was comforted concerning you, when he related to us your longing, [Namely, after my coming unto you] your lamenting, [namely, for my tribulations and grievances] your zeal for me: [namely, against the disobedient, also in receiving the reproofs and exhortations given you by me in the former Epistle: whereof he treats more at large in the following verse] so that I was gladded the more.
8. For although I have grieved you in the Epistle, [Namely, by mine earnest writing and reproving you for tolerating of the incestuous person, and other faults among you. See 1 Cor. chapter 5. and the following] I am not sorry for it, although it did make me sorry: [that is, grieved me that I must write so roughly even as it grieves a Father, when he must harshly his reprove his children, although he justly doth so, and for their good] for I see that the same Epistle hath grieved you, although for a little time:
9. Now I rejoice, not for that ye were grieved, but because ye were grieved to repentance. For ye were grieved according to God; so that ye have suffered hurt by us in no thing. [Or, that ye might suffer hurt by us in no thing.]
10. For grief according to God [That is, which cometh from God, is acceptable to God, and brings the sinner unto God: is acceptable to God, and brings the sinner unto God: when namely the heart of the sinner is rightly grieved for this, that he hath provoked his Father to wrath by his sin, with a confidence of the forgiveness of the same through Jesus Christ, accompanied with a firm purpose of avoiding sin, as the example of David, the lost son, the woman that was a sinner, Peter, and others do show] worketh a repentance not to be sorrowed for, unto salvation: but the grief of the worldly [that is, which is in worldly men, for those of worldly things or which is occasioned only for fear of Gods judgment, whereupon follows hardening in sin, despair and finally damnation it self, as is to be seen in Cain, Achitophel, Ahab, Judas, and the like] worketh death.
11. For behold this same that ye were grieved according to God, how great diligence [Or, carefulness, and trouble for the sin that was committed to amend it] hath it wrought in you? Yea apologize, [or excusing, namely, that this was not done out of willfulness, or consent to this the sin committed] yea displeasure, [or heaviness, for the same sin, distaste, dissatisfaction] yea fear, [namely, of divine and Ecclesiastical punishment for that sin, if it were not amended] yea longing, [that is, a willingness and singular desire to amend the amend the same] yea zeal, [namely, in fulfilling of that which the Apostle hath commanded them for removing of the scandal] yea revenge: [this may be understood of the Ecclesiastical punishment it self for this sin, or else of the trouble which they showed for it, which was a revenge upon themselves, that they had been so negligent herein before] in all things ye have showed your selves to be pure [namely, not from all faults, for negligence also is a fault, but from having any satisfaction therein, or having dealt willfully therein] in this matter. [or dealing, deed.]
12. Although therefore I wrote to you, (that) is not [Namely, so much or principally. A phrase like that 1 Cor. 9.9,10.] for his sake who had done wrong, [that is, the person who had committed incest. Or their who had drawn their brethren before unbelieving Judgers, or wrong them] nor for his sake to whom wrong was done: [hereby some understand the Father of this person, whose wife he had taken unto him. Others understand it of them to whom injury was done before the judgment of unbelieving Magistrates, wherefore he had written, 1 Cor. 6.1. etc.] but that our diligence for us] for you [or to you, i.e. which is laid out or employed for your service] might be manifest unto you in the presence of God.
13. Therefore we were comforted for your comfort: and were yet more abundantly joyed for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. [Namely, seeing willing ye were to receive my exhortations and his person, and to show him all good will.]
14. For I have boasted any thing to him of you: I am not made ashamed: but as we speak all things unto you with truth, so also our boasting which (I boasted) to Titus is become truth: [That is, found true.]
15. And his inward moving [Gr. bowels, i.e. inclination and love. An Hebrew phrase] are the more abundant towards you, when he calls to mind the obedience of you all, how ye received him with fear trembling.
16. I rejoice therefore that in all things I may have confidence of you, [Gr. confide you.]