2 Corinthians 7: Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance

Read 2 Corinthians Chapter 7

Introduction: 2 Corinthians 7 speaks to the heart about having a godly sorrow for sinfulness, repentance, and the joy that follows reconciliation. Paul talks about his deep concern for the Corinthians and sheds light on the value of their relationship, both with him and with God. The chapter serves as a testament to the transformative power of genuine repentance and the power of comfort in the midst of affliction.

I. Joy in the Corinthians’ Response (2 Corinthians 7:1-4)
In these verses, Paul begins this chapter by beseeching the Corinthians to cleanse themselves from anything that contaminates body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1), somewhat like the verses in Ephesians 4:22-24, which speaks about putting off the old self, no one can put new wine in old wine skins. He then reassures them of his deep love and lack of condemnation, despite any past rebukes (2 Corinthians 7:2-3). His joy and comfort come from their upbeat response, as well as his confidence in them (2 Corinthians 7:4). This echoes Philippians 1:25-26, where Paul speaks of staying with the Philippians for their progress and joy in the faith.

II. Paul’s Affliction and Comfort (2 Corinthians 7:5-7)
These verses talks about his previous afflictions from his travels, feeling troubled on every side (2 Corinthians 7:5), which points to his experiences in Acts 20:22-23. But he also shares how God, who comforts the downcast, comforted him through the arrival of Titus (2 Corinthians 7:6), much like the encouragement written about in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7, where Paul was comforted about how well the Thessalonian church was doing. The good news of the Corinthians’ longing, mourning, and concern for Paul brought him even more joy (2 Corinthians 7:7).

III. The Purpose and Result of Paul’s Severe Letter (2 Corinthians 7:8-12)
Paul initially regretted sending a stern letter that caused the Corinthians sorrow, he later rejoiced not because they were made sorry, but because their sorrow led to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:8-9). Godly sorrow producing repentance is echoed in Acts 11:18. Paul speaks on the differences between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, stating that the latter brings salvation without regret, but the first one changes nothing (2 Corinthians 7:10). We can compare this to to Romans 2:4, where the kindness of God leads to repentance, it is called God’s grace and mercy. He points out the Corinthians showed a great desire to clear themselves with God (2 Corinthians 7:11-12), putting on display the fruits of repentance seen in Matthew 3:8.

IV. Paul’s Rejoicing Over the Corinthians’ Reception of Titus (2 Corinthians 7:13-16)
Finally, Paul talks about his joy over how well the Corinthians received his companion, Titus (2 Corinthians 7:13), reminding us of the partnership in ministry mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. The affection Titus has for the Corinthians brings comfort to Paul, and their willingness to refresh Titus’s spirit pleases him greatly (2 Corinthians 7:13-15). Paul ends the chapter by sharing how proud he is of the Corinthians, knowing that his boasting to Titus was not in vain (2 Corinthians 7:16), this brings to mind Paul talking about boasting in 2 Thessalonians 1:4, he talks  of boasting about other churches.

Conclusion: In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul writes to the church with affection and relief, highlighting the positive outcomes of their repentance and the consolation they all share in Christ. The chapter points out the importance of heartfelt godly sorrow leading to change in their lives, a comparison between worldly grief and godly sorrow, and the joy found in Christian fellowship and mutual care. The chapter encourages believers to embrace the life change in process of repentance and to find strength in the comfort offered by God and the community of faith. In this chapter, people can find inspiration to pursue a life of purity, to be open to correction, and to rejoice in the unity and growth of the church body.