Глава VII.

The Apostle's joy at the arrival of Titus to him with good news from Corinth (1-16). Art. The 1st is a conclusion to the section contained in verses 14–18 of the previous chapter. Verses 2-4 are the transition to the next speech about the arrival of Titus. Then, from verse 5, we talk about how the Apostle was consoled by the return to him of Titus, who had gone to Corinth, and by the information about the state of the Corinthian church that Titus told him upon his arrival. 2 Corinthians 7:1. Therefore, beloved, having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. “Promises” - see verses 17 and 18 of chapter VI. - “Defilement of the flesh and spirit”, - that is, from dirty vices that defile our very body, and from more subtle sins that manifest themselves in our spiritual life. – “Performing holiness” is more correct: our sanctification or purification, which has only just begun in baptism and must continue throughout our entire life. - “In the fear of God.” Even in the Old Testament it is said that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Great wisdom is also needed for the Christian to perform his sanctification. It's clear why Ap. here he speaks of the fear of God. The Corinthians could have completely forgotten about Him, seeing in God only the Father, and this would have deprived them of support for their activities on the path of moral self-improvement. 2 Corinthians 7:2. Accommodate us. We did not offend anyone, we did not harm anyone, we did not seek gain from anyone. 2 Corinthians 7:3. I don’t say this as a condemnation; for I said before that you are in our hearts, so that we can die and live together. 2 Cor.7:4. I hope a lot in you, I boast a lot about you; I am filled with consolation, overflowing with joy, despite all our sorrow. The apostle defends himself from reproaches that he insults the Corinthians and seeks gain from them. He didn't do anything like that. And now he does not say this in order to condemn the Corinthians: on the contrary, he loves them with all his heart. And in general, he only rejoices about the Corinthians at the present time (when Titus told him how his first letter to them was accepted by them), even forgetting about all the sorrows oppressing him. How can he not rejoice when he is confident that the Corinthians are obedient to him as their father? 2 Cor.7:5. For when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no peace, but we were oppressed from everywhere: attacks from without, fears from within. 2 Cor.7:6. But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us with the arrival of Titus, 2 Cor.7:7. and not only by his arrival, but also by the consolation with which he consoled himself about you, telling us about your zeal, about your crying, about your jealousy for me, so that I rejoiced even more. Here the Apostle restores the interrupted speech (see 2 Cor. 2:12) about the state of mind in which he was before Titus arrived to him. When he was in Macedonia, he was surrounded by danger on all sides. Titus's arrival could not have come at a better time. - “Fears”. Ap. Of course, he was afraid not for himself, but for the believers, whom persecution could lead astray from the path of faith. - The consolation with which he was consoled by God was, firstly, the very arrival of Titus, and secondly, the good news that Titus told him. It turned out that the Corinthians expressed their love for the Apostle when they read his letter to them, and sincerely repented of the grief they had caused him. They showed “zeal” for the Apostle, that is, they vied with each other to fulfill his wishes expressed in the message. 2 Cor.7:8. Therefore, if I saddened you with the message, I do not regret it, although I did regret it; for I see that that message saddened you, however, for a while. 2 Cor.7:9. Now I rejoice, not because you were saddened, but because you were saddened to repentance; for they grieved for God's sake, so that they suffered no harm from us. 2 Cor.7:10. For Godly sorrow produces unchanging repentance leading to salvation, but worldly sorrow produces death. 2 Cor.7:11. For the very fact that you were saddened for the sake of God, look what zeal has produced in you, what apologies, what indignation at the guilty party, what fear, what desire, what jealousy, what retribution! By all accounts, you have shown yourself to be clean in this matter. 2 Cor.7:12. So, if I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender and not for the sake of the insulted, but so that our care for you before God would be revealed to you. It was time when Ap. I almost regretted sending my first letter to Corinth. He spoke so strictly to the Corinthians in it! But now he is glad that the message was received by the Corinthians, because it had the desired effect on them. Even if they were upset by the reproaches with which Ap. addressed them in his message, but this grief or sadness brought them nothing but benefit. It was sadness “for God’s sake” or in agreement with the will of God, and it is this that is the source of saving repentance. There is another kind of sadness - “worldly”, which plunges a person into hopeless despair and leads to death (for example, Judas the Traitor). Now, if the letter had led the Corinthians to this final sorrow, then it would have been regrettable. Now things are completely different. What “offender” does the Apostle mean and who is “offended”? Some interpreters (eg Busse) see here an indication of a personal insult inflicted by some Corinthian on the Apostle Paul. But it is more correct and natural to see here, together with the blessed one. Theodoret, an indication of the incestuous man (1 Cor 5:2) and his father. Even if the apostle wrote about this unpleasant circumstance, he had in mind not the interests of only the father and son, but the benefit of the entire Corinthian church. He also wanted to show that he was not indifferent - as his enemies slandered him - to the true good of the Corinthians and that he was constantly concerned about them. 2 Corinthians 7:13. Therefore we have been comforted by your consolation; and we are even more delighted with the joy of Titus that you all calmed his spirit. 2 Cor.7:14. So I did not remain in shame if I boasted about you in anything before him, but just as we told you everything the truth, so before Titus our praise turned out to be true; 2 Corinthians 7:15. and his heart is very disposed towards you, remembering the obedience of all of you, how you accepted him with fear and trembling. 2 Corinthians 7:16. So I am glad that I can rely on you in everything. The apostle, therefore, was consoled by the consolation of the Corinthians, that is, by the consolation they gave him. He was also consoled by the fact that Titus, whom he sent to Corinth, found a good reception there. This was especially pleasant for the Apostle because he had previously praised Titus of Corinthians: it means that he did not praise them in vain. This gives the Apostle a reason to once again point out his truth in his judgments and actions. Ap concludes his speech. confidence that the Corinthians would continue to obey him, that mutual trust between him and them would always exist. You might be interested in: