Chapter 7
V1 molusmos translated filthiness is Greek for defilement. Any Christian aware of the promise of salvation unto eternal life should endeavour to katharizo/cleanse, purify themselves from anything that may defile not only the flesh outwardly, but also the spirit inwardly. The spirit is the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of anyone. The spirit at death returns to Elohim, yet is still capable of being defiled by sin brought in by the lusts of the flesh. It is the flesh where the demonic host operate to tempt a soul to sin. Once sin enters a man all three parts i.e. body, soul and spirit become defiled. Epiteleo/perfecting is Greek for accomplishing.
This accomplishing of holiness is only achievable when our spirit works in tandem with the Holy Spirit to rule over our soul and flesh. This frustrates the efforts of the host of evil from gaining any foothold to plant sin in our hearts. Elohim’s wrath is more fearful than any affliction that Satan may put us through, and hence YHVH should be obeyed with great reverence cf Pro 8:13; 1 Pet 2:11.
V2 Carrying on with the theme of the congregation making room in their hearts for Him, Paul professes his innocence and sincerity to the ecclesia. Every ambassador of Yeshua should strive to attain such a reputation of blamelessness in order to thwart the accusations of Satan daily made against the saints cf Rev 12:10.
V3 Having listed a chain of false accusations regarding his conduct in 6:8-9, Paul reassures the ecclesia that he is not condemning them at all for believing these lies, but rather defending them in life and in death in his heart which was enlarged for them. Additionally, as pastors of the flock of Messiah, we should be prepared to live and die for them at all costs, protecting them from the attacks of the devil and his emissaries, be they physical or spiritual.
V4 A half-hearted approach to the welfare of the flock should be avoided too. Ministers entrusted with the shepherding of Yeshua’s saints must find joy and peace in them, and be confident to boast about and glory in them. This keeps the spirits of the congregation alive and gives every member a sense of worth and importance in the body of Messiah, urging them to accomplish their holiness too. Leading the flock in purity attracts trials and tribulations from the kingdom of hell. Instead of buckling under the pressure, we should trod on with joy evident in the damage done to Satan’s forces.
V5-6 Paul’s train of thought returns to 2 Cor 2:13. He was greatly troubled physically and emotionally: physically from open hostility directed against his preaching of the gospel, perpetrated by Jews and Gentiles and false brethren within the ecclesia; emotionally by the uncertainty which lay in the reception of his first epistle to the Corinthians. The delayed feedback from Titus, regarding the epistle’s reception, raised this apprehension within Paul’s mind. As already highlighted by Paul in 2 Cor 1:3-4, it is Elohim the Father that is wholly responsible for comforting, of which He did by facilitating the safe arrival of Titus.
V7 It was not only the safe arrival of Titus that brought much comfort to Paul, but also the encouraging tidings that he brought with him. Paul had feared that the Corinthians would be disheartened by his rather chastising epistle, leading to their possible rejection of him and the gospel. However, much to his content, the Corinthians had longed and lamented for Paul, fervently embracing his epistle.
V8 Although Paul had sent a very severe epistle bound to make the recipients in Corinth lupe/sad, he did not regret doing that which was necessary and overdue. However, he couldn’t help regretting the fact that the epistle had saddened them, though for a short while. At times when the ecclesia is chartering down a path of heresy or rebellion, be it through ignorance or pride, the elders of that congregation must not spare the rod, lest they spoil the child. Sharp words of chastisement may need to be uttered to return the saints on the strait and narrow path, lest they find themselves on the broad way that leads to destruction.
V9 Paul then clarifies wherein lay his rejoicing. It was not in their sadness caused by the severe letter, but at their positive response to the epistle, whereby they repented unto righteousness. The sorrow they went through yielded righteousness, resulting in Paul not suffering loss after all, for so strong a letter. If anything, had Paul held his peace, the ecclesia would have suffered great loss by continuing and worsening in their sin. A truly loving pastor must never feel he is taking a gamble when he is faced with the need to discipline members who have strayed from truth. It is Elohim’s divine counsel to sift out those who are true to his word, by so doing. Those congregants who repent on realizing their sins of ignorance or commission will invariably respect and love their pastor even more cf Jm 5:20.
V10 Sorrow which is after the will of Elohim does indeed lead to repentance unto salvation, and this is ametameletos/unregretted and irrevocable. This is in stark contrast to worldly sorrow which leads to death, be it physical or that of loss of eternal life.
V11 Paul then describes what positive effects the sorrow after the will of Elohim exhibited by the Corinthians, in response to his letter of chastisement, had on their lives of repentance:
a. Spoude-earnestness and diligence
b. Apologia-clearing of oneself
c. Aganaktesis-vexation, irritation towards evil, that had once trapped them
d. Phobos-a healthy fear of Elohim, dread of His impending wrath against evildoers
e. Epipothesis-longing for the promise of Elohim of salvation for the repentant
f. Zelos-zeal and fervour of spirit for the gospel
g. Ekdikesis- Punishment of wilful offenders in the ecclesia such as through excommunication, and vengeance against the forces of evil, through spiritual warfare cf 1 Cor 5:1
In all these things were the Corinthians found to be hagnos/immaculate, chaste.
V12 This is probably in reference again to the likes of the man in 1 Cor 5:1, whereby Paul reassured the Corinthians that his focus of attention in his epistle was not on the wrongdoer (the adulterous, fornicating son), nor on the wronged (the father, whose son had slept with his wife) who were mentioned in the seemingly severe letter of chastisement. He rather was focusing on how much he cared for the spiritual well-being of the ecclesia, which clearly was in great jeopardy at the time. We must never as preachers, teachers, pastors, apostles allow ourselves to turn a blind eye or deaf ear on blatant evil and corruption, as this exhibits a lack of sincere love for the flock of Messiah.
V13 Titus having reported to Paul his elation brought about by the repentance of the ecclesia, and their subsequent positive response to Paul’s epistle, equally resulted in jubilation and rejoicing in Paul’s heart. Note that it was Titus’ spirit, not soul or body that was refreshed.
V14 kauchaomai translated ‘boasting’ is a poor translation. It should be translated ‘glorying’. Paul was not embarrassed to express his glorying in the Corinthian ecclesia, to Titus, in reference to their repentance and reformed Christian, spiritual conduct. The truth he had preached and written to them, had borne good fruitful conduct, of which was equally filled with truthful living on the part of the reformed ecclesia.
V15 splagchnon translated ‘inward affection’ is the bowels which were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love by the Greeks; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, esp. kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc.). Titus’ affection for the Corinthians was magnified by their saintly reception of him exhibited by a reverence for Elohim, through doing His will.
V16 Paul had even more reason to be fully confident in the reformed ecclesia due to the wonderful report and elation from Titus.