MARCH 13, 2022
SATISFYING EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THE FORMER LETTER
INTRODUCTION:
1. We must always keep in mind that the chapter divisions are of human origin, and are provided for our convenience in locating particular passages. Sometimes they may be inconveniently places, as in the case of our present study. Perhaps with no other book of the New Testament was dividing of the subject matter more difficult than II Corinthians. This is due to the fact that there are so many digressions and parentheticals, and interjections from the heart of the inspired writer.
2. Perhaps here there should have been no division at all. At the very least the first few verses properly belong to the preceding chapter. It begins in Verse 1 with an exhortation founded on what immediately precedes. (Ch. 6:14-18) Then, his appeal in Verse 2 that they esteem him and his office is based on the account that he gave of his unwavering faithfulness through severe trials of every kind. (Ch. 6:3-10) Then, in Verse 3 he is reiterating his often expressed love of them, most recently in the preceding passage. (Ch. 6:11-13)
3. The rest of our present passage (Verses 4-7) is concerning the consolation that he took from the favorable account which he had received while in Macedonia of the situation at Corinth.
I. THE APOSTLE OFFERS THREE WORDS WHICH ARE BASED ON MATTERS OF THE PRECEDING DISCUSSIONS. (VERSES 1-3)
A. A WORD OF EXHORTATION; THAT THEY MAKE PROGRESS IN HOLINESS. (VERSE 1)
1. “Having therefore these promises” The promises referred to are those contained within the warning against unequal yokes at the end of Chapter 6. They are God’s own promises.
a) First, God’s promise to dwell in us and walk in us ought to be a very strong incentive to purify ourselves. (Ch. 6:16b)
(1) Sin’s greatest offense for believers is that it grieves the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us. (See
I Cor. 6:19, 20; Rom. 8:5-14)
(2) Sin’s greatest danger for believers is that of losing the favorable presence of God in our life, i.e. His power and blessing. (Judges 16:20)
b) Second, God’s promises to be a Father to us, to treat and care for us as His sons and daughters. (Ch. 6:18)
(1) Surely the implications of what it means that the Almighty God fulfills the roll as Father to His children should be sufficient incentives for us to separate ourselves from the world. (Ch. 6:17, 18)
(2) If God is our Father there ought to be a filial relationship and a family resemblance. (I Pet. 1:14-17) Let us walk before Him in reverential fear. (I Pet. 1:17)
2. Holiness clearly involves more than outward obedience, nevertheless it is impossible apart from separation and refusing unequal alliances with unbelievers.
B. A WORD OF APPEAL TO THE CORINTHIANS THAT THEY JUDGE HIM AS WORTHY OF DUE HONOR AS AN APOSTLE AND A MINISTER OF CHRIST. (VERSE 2)
1. Considering his constancy and fidelity as a faithful minister of God, and that under the severest of trials, surely he had proven himself worthy of honor. (Ch. 6:3-10)
2. Surely, the Corinthian church, even above others, ought to have held Paul in high esteem, not only for his work’s sake, but for his personal sacrifices for them. How many of his voluntary trials were on their behalf? (Ch. 6:5b)
3. Besides all of the positive good he had done them, he had not harmed any of them. “We have wronged no man…corrupted no man…defrauded no man.” Essentially he is saying that he had not treated any of them unjustly, nor had he injured them, or treated any unfairly.
4. He says to them, “receive us,” i.e. make room for us in your hearts.
C. A WORD TO REINFORCE HIS OFTEN STATED LOVE FOR THEM. (VERSE 3)
1. “I speak not to condemn you.” In defending himself he was not meaning to condemn them. When he said, “I have not wronged you,” he was not implying that they were guilty of such.
2. He had said before (Ch. 6:12) that they were in his heart, and he here reiterates that expression of love.
3. He says that they were so rooted in his heart that he would gladly live and die with them, or that neither life nor death could separate them, i.e. break the bonds of his love for them.
II. PAUL EXPRESSES WHAT GREAT CONSOLATION AND JOY WAS HIS, HAVING RECEIVED A FAVORABLE REPORT OF THEM. (VERSES 4-7)
A. HIS BOLD SPEECH TO THEM CAME NOT FROM A DISPOSITION TO UPBRAID THEM, BUT RATHER FROM FEELINGS OF CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE. (VERSE 4)
1. The account which the Apostle had just received of the state of things at Corinth, and especially of the effect produced by his first letter, had removed all feelings of anxiety and doubt concerning them.
2. The pendulum had in fact swung to the opposite extreme. He gloried on their account. He was disposed to tell everyone how well his dear Corinthians had behaved. He was filled with comfort over them, and also very proud of them.
B. THIS REPORT THAT FILLED HIS HEART WITH JOY COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME. (VERSE 5)
1. Far from leaving his troubles behind at Troas, (Ch. 2:12) in Macedonia his flesh still had no rest.
2. He had fightings without, (Ch. 1:8, 9) and fears within. It seems that his fears within were anxious fears about the state of things at Corinth.
a) From Chapters 1, 2 we know that he was much concerned about how his first letter had been received.
b) He realized that if the serious problems addressed in the first letter were not dealt with according to his instructions, the church would not survive.
3. It was during this period of severe trials and anxiety that he received words of encouragement.
C. PAUL ACKNOWLEDGES THAT GOD HAD, THROUGH THE COMING OF TITUS, LIFTED HIM UP. (VERSE 6)
1. “Nevertheless God…” He that comforts those who are cast down, comforted Paul.
a) Notice, it is the “fears within” that cast us down.
b) It seems that we can bear anything so long as we have the joy of the Lord within our hearts.
c) The worry over the church at Corinth and the delay in Titus’ coming had Paul cast down.
d) Clearly, once this burden was lifted, the outward trials were handled with courage. (Ch. 6:4, 10)
2. Paul considered Titus and his good reports as God’s messengers to his own soul.
3. Every Christian, and certainly every minister of the Gospel, will experience in some measure what Paul here describes.
a) We become anxious over concerns within the church, and concerns over individual souls. We can become cast down in spirit over such worries. In this state every burden becomes heavier.
b) How welcome and blessed then are God’s messengers of mercy. God is the Comforter of those that are cast down. His messengers may be of the human sort, like Titus, or they may be of other providential arrangements, but the needy soul knows they are of God.
D. IT WAS PRIMARILY THE INTELLIGENCE THAT TITUS BROUGHT THAT COMFORTED PAUL. (VERSE 7)
1. The sight of Titus was a welcome one to be sure. He dearly loved and appreciated this good man. He was, no doubt, concerned for his safety in coming to him. So, his arrival was in itself a relief and a joy.
2. But, as the Apostle says, “not by his coming only, but by the consolations wherewith he was comforted of you.”
3. Paul had been greatly concerned over how Titus would be received by them. How happy he was to learn that Titus had been received well, and Paul’s letter had been properly received.
a) Doubtless some at Corinth objected, for like every church, they had some false ones within the ranks. They had false teachers that were particularly loud, and haters of Paul.
b) Nevertheless, the church as a whole had taken heed to Paul’s words of rebuke and correction, and had set things in order.
4. Paul was greatly comforted and encouraged to hear about their earnest desire, i.e. their earnest desire to see the Apostle, and to secure his approbation, or their earnest desire to correct the evils in the church.
5. Paul was also comforted to hear about their mourning, i.e. lamentation over having offended the Apostle, or mourning over their sins. Probably it was both.
6. Paul rejoiced the more to hear of their fervent love toward himself.
CONCLUSION:
1. What an uplift! What a change of emotion! Paul was energized by the report from Corinth.
2. Those who labor in the Gospel “live” or “die” according to its success. They “live” if those to whom they minister stand fast in the faith. (I Tim. 3:8)
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