Positive Motivations for Faithful Service
A verse-by-verse explanation of this section.
An overview of the principles and applications from this section.
Tying the section to life with God.
Historical, geographical, and grammatical enrichment of the commentary.
Suggested step-by-step group study of the section.
Zeroing the section in on daily life.
“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.
Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Having spent most of his time dealing with negative problems in the church at Corinth, Paul began to express confidence and joy in the Corinthians to motivate them to faithful service.
Most ministers are involved in hospital visitation at one time or another. This experience is deeply encouraging sometimes and at other times terribly depressing. Many pastors would agree that the most negative aspect of visiting believers in the hospital is seeing a follower of Christ in severe pain with no hope of recovery.
I remember visiting an elderly church member. She had a prognosis of full recovery, but she shared a room with a patient who was terminally ill. Both of them were obviously in pain on that day. But as I sympathized with my church member, she whispered to me, “Yes, the pain is terrible, but at least I know I'm going to be healthier after all this is over.” I guess you could call that “good pain.” Temporary agony that leads to the discovery and eradication of a disease is really a blessing. Without such pain, death would be inevitable.
We now come upon a portion of Paul's letter to the Corinthians in which he speaks of “good pain.” Much of his communication with Corinth was negative. He inflicted pain with his sharp rebukes and warnings. But in this section he saw that the pain had brought Corinth to repentance and spiritual health.
Positive Motivations for Faithful Service
MAIN IDEA: When believers repent of waywardness, they find positive motivations for obedience to Christ. Love and gratitude motivate them to express loyalty to Christ.
Appeal, Denial, and Affirmation (7:2–4)
SUPPORTING IDEA: Paul appealed to the Corinthians to have affection for him, and he denied any wrongdoing that might have inhibited their affection.
7:2. Paul asked the Corinthians to make room for him in their hearts. He did not want them to resent or reject him; he desired close fellowship with them like that between loving parents and children.
The apostle next dispelled any misgivings that may have hindered the Corinthians' love for him. In their ministry, Paul and his company had wronged no one, had corrupted no one, and had exploited no one. It is likely that Titus (see 7:13b–15) had reported that some in the Corinthian church had accused Paul and his company of these things in order to discredit their ministry. Paul must have feared that some people still believed these lies.
7:3. Paul shifted from the plural (we) to the singular (I) to express himself even more intimately than before as he made certain his denials were not misunderstood. He did not say this to condemn them. His denials were not contentious, and he intended no curse upon the church.
To clarify his motivation in denying the accusations, he reminded the Corinthians of something he had said before. He returned to the plural pronoun (we) to include his entire company in these next statements. The Corinthians had such a special place in their hearts that he and his company would live or die with the Corinthians. The NIV reverses the word order of the Greek text and gives the impression that Paul spoke only theoretically about what he was willing to do. Paul actually said he was ready “to die together and to live together” (NASB) with the Corinthians. This word order suggests that Paul spoke realistically of what he had already done. From his point of view, Paul was already dying as he suffered in ministry on behalf of the church. Also, he had already lived in Corinth (Acts 18:1,11). The Corinthians should have been fully aware of Paul's deep commitment to them, confident he would never abuse them.
7:4. Paul affirmed that his outlook for the majority of the church was positive: (1) he had great confidence in them; (2) he took great pride in them; and (3) he was greatly encouraged about them. It is unlikely that Paul approved of every Corinthian church member, especially to this degree. Yet, Titus's report (7:13b–15) led Paul to assess the congregation as a whole very positively.
Paul had confidence that most Corinthians were true believers who would submit to God's will; he believed they had been faithful to Christ and would certainly inherit eternal life. He had godly pride in their faithfulness. Just as he admitted to a holy jealousy for the Corinthians, Paul took pride as the Corinthian believers' spiritual parent. He delighted in the progress of their Christian lives. This confidence and pride caused Paul to be greatly encouraged. The apostle found strength from God by reflecting on what had happened in the Corinthian church.
This encouragement was precious to Paul because he continued to have many troubles in his ministry. Yet, he found joy with no bounds when he considered the spiritual condition of the believers in Corinth. He was beside himself with delight.
Paul's Comfort in Macedonia (7:5–7)
SUPPORTING IDEA: Paul explained the reason for his confidence and joy. Titus had just reported to Paul that the church at Corinth had accepted Paul's instructions. This section relates the main theme of Titus's report.
7:5. Paul had sent Titus to Corinth to deliver his earlier epistle and to collect money for believers in Jerusalem. When Paul did not find Titus in Troas, he journeyed to Macedonia to visit the churches at Philippi, Thessaloniaca, and Berea. Titus pursued Paul to Macedonia and finally brought him a report on the church at Corinth.
While Paul waited for Titus, he had no rest. He and his company were in turmoil, harassed at every turn. They faced two problems: conflicts on the outside and fears within. These conflicts (mache) were probably experienced with believers as well as unbelievers. Nearly everywhere Paul went, he faced opposition. We cannot be sure what kinds of fears the apostle had in mind. He could have suffered fears because of the challenges to his ministry, but it is more likely that he spoke here of his fears or doubts about the Corinthians. Paul had been concerned about how they would react to the harsh epistle that Titus delivered.
7:6. In the midst of this troubled condition, God … comforted Paul and his company by the coming of Titus. In a quick aside, the apostle described God as the God who comforts the downcast. This description of God derived from the Old Testament (1 Sam. 2:8; Isa. 49:13) describes God as one who cares for those who have been troubled by enemies. Paul recognized that Titus' good report was more than a human event. God himself had intervened to care for Paul.
7:7. Paul had feared that the Corinthians resented him because of his sharp rebukes, but Titus told Paul that the Corinthians were longing for him. They had deep sorrow over their waywardness, and were ardent[ly] concern[ed] for Paul. We gain a sense of how important these responses were to Paul by noting how he repeated the pronoun your three times in rapid succession. He was deeply moved because his desire for the Corinthians' love was fulfilled. As a result, his joy was greater than ever.
The Corinthians' loyalty and concern for Paul showed their acceptance of his apostolic correction as well as their loyalty to Christ. Paul delighted in the grace of God at work in the Corinthian church.
SUPPORTING IDEA: Paul was also confident and joyous over the Corinthians because the sorrow he had inflicted on them had brought them to repentance.
7:8–9. Paul knew that his earlier letter delivered by Titus had caused … sorrow in the church, and Paul had mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, he did not regret it, but on the other hand he did regret it. Just as parents do not enjoy disciplining their children, Paul did not enjoy the sorrow he brought to the Corinthians. He did not like seeing them in pain. Yet, he knew that this sorrow was only for a little while, and that it had led … to their repentance. For this reason, he could also be happy that they had gone through the sorrow. Paul's goal had been to bring the Corinthians to repentance, and his strategy had worked. They had reacted as God intended and so were not harmed in any way.
7:10. To explain himself further, Paul contrasted two kinds of sorrow: Godly sorrow, which conforms to divine intent, and worldly sorrow, which does not.
Godly sorrow brings repentance. In this context, “sorrow” refers to regret and emotional pain, and “repentance” means a change of mind and behavior. When believers become aware of their sins, they often react with bitter sorrow. But they do not repent unless they change their lifestyles. Godly sorrow always leads to repentance. When true believers hear the rebuke of God's Word, they turn to God for cleansing and forgiveness. Thus, Godly sorrow … leads to salvation and leaves no regret.
On the surface worldly sorrow may look similar to godly sorrow, but it brings death. The outcome of sorrow indicates its true nature. Even unbelievers may regret sins that they have committed, but this sorrow does not bring about God-centered repentance, and thus leads to death.
7:11. Paul reflected further on the Corinthians' repentance by noting eight results their godly sorrow had produced: (1) earnestness (or sincerity); (2) eagerness to clear yourselves (a readiness to make amends); (3) indignation (repulsion from former practices); (4) alarm (trepidation over past sin); (5) longing (desire for the ways of righteousness); (6) concern (caring about the terrible conditions of their church); (7) readiness to see justice done (a commitment to doing what was right in the church); and (8) they proved themselves to be innocent in this matter.
Paul may have had in mind the case of immorality that he had addressed in 1 Corinthians 5:1–13. Although the church had hesitated at first to discipline the immoral brother, perhaps they had not failed to discipline him at the apostle's instruction. This list of evidences for repentance is to some degree tailored to the situation in Corinth. The first five or six items are easily applied to other circumstances, but the last two deal with the particular sins in the Corinthian church.
7:12. Paul explained his motivation in bringing sorrow to the Corinthians in legal terms. He had not been concerned primarily with the one who did the wrong or with the injured party. While he may have had in mind the case of incest that he had addressed, he may also have had a more generic outlook in mind. In any case, Paul had not intended to blame or defend anyone. His goal had been more positive. He had wanted the Corinthians to see for themselves how devoted they were to the ways of Christ. He had wanted them to experience the joy of seeing God at work in their lives. This divine grace displayed itself in their godly sorrow and thorough repentance.
7:13a. The positive reactions and results that God worked through the Corinthians were so dramatic that Paul could not doubt them. Upon reflection, all this … encouraged the apostle's entire company.
Paul's Added Encouragement (7:13b–16)
SUPPORTING IDEA: As Paul continued to describe what had happened in Macedonia, he commended the Corinthians even further.
7:13b. Not only had the Corinthians encouraged Paul, but they had also encouraged Titus. Paul was delighted to see how happy Titus was. Titus was Paul's trusted servant. Like Paul, he also suffered for the gospel. Paul was pleased by Titus's happiness. Titus had been refreshed by the Corinthians' reaction.
7:14. The impression the Corinthians made on Titus also delighted Paul because he had boasted about the Corinthians to Titus. On a number of occasions, Paul rejoiced in the work of God in the lives of others by drawing attention to their gifts and blessings. Paul had probably told Titus about the blessings of God at Corinth in a manner similar to his acclamations to the Corinthians themselves.
Because Paul had bragged to Titus about the church at Corinth, he had risked embarrassment by sending Titus to deal with troubles there. He feared that perhaps they would not respond properly to his letter and that Titus would not be impressed with the church. But the Corinthians had been filled with godly sorrow and had repented, so they had not embarrassed him. Thus, Paul was vindicated in his boasting … to Titus.
7:15. Paul rounded out his commendation of the Corinthians by noting that Titus and he were pleased with the church because they were all obedient. Paul had given many instructions in the letter that Titus delivered, and the Corinthians had obeyed in everything. It is not likely that Paul meant that every single individual complied. All in this context probably identified the vast majority, or the church as a whole.
Paul also remarked on the attitudes of the Corinthians toward Titus. They had not resented his presence, but had received him with fear and trembling. The precise meaning of this expression is not clear. The expression appears to have been quite flexible, its meaning depending on the circumstances it described. In some cases it may simply have meant intense, humble anticipation of a future task. In others it may have entailed a fear of divine judgment. The Corinthians received Paul's rebukes and warnings with humble awareness of the peril in which their sins placed them.
7:16. As a result of their compliance and emotional reaction, Paul had complete confidence in the Corinthians. He was sure their faith was genuine and that they could be trusted to respond appropriately to the Word of God. Although he often called the Corinthian church “brothers,” Paul also expressed doubts about their eternal salvation. Still, his confidence in the church at large had increased to the point that he had complete confidence in them.
The Example of Macedonia (8:1–7)
SUPPORTING IDEA: Paul turned his attention to the collection of the contribution for the poor believers in Jerusalem. Instead of rebuking and warning them, Paul emphasized positive motivations for obedience to the will of God.
8:1. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to move forward in their renewed commitment by following the example of the Macedonians (the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea). In a spirit of intimacy, he addressed the Corinthians as brothers. Paul and his company wanted the church at Corinth to be encouraged to action by the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
8:2. How did God's grace display itself in Macedonia? The churches in that region had demonstrated rich generosity by giving to the relief of poor believers in Jerusalem. This generosity was obviously an act of divine grace because it occurred during a time of severe trial. On several occasions we read about troubles suffered by the Macedonian churches (Acts 17:1–9; 2 Thess. 1:4). By comparison, the church at Corinth had probably not experienced much trouble. Even so, the Macedonians gave with overflowing joy even in their extreme poverty. Their example should motivate the Corinthians to give generously as well.
8:3–5. Paul supported his report of Macedonian generosity with his personal testimony about several details. He knew the Macedonians had given as much as they were able. In fact, they had given beyond their ability. More importantly, they had done this entirely on their own, without harsh rebuke or strong commands. They had even urgently pleaded for the privilege of giving. In exemplary behavior, the Macedonians not only gave themselves first to the Lord, but also to Paul and his company in keeping with God's will.
8:6–7. Paul was obviously pleased with the generosity of the Macedonian believers, but he mentioned these matters primarily to motivate the Corinthians to show the same generosity. For this reason, Paul urged Titus to return to Corinth to complete this act of grace on the Corinthians' part. The Corinthians had already experienced many blessings from God. Paul admitted that they excelled in faith, in speech, in knowledge. Yet, he wanted to see them go beyond these experiences of God's grace. Out of complete earnestness, or full sincerity and devotion, and love for Paul and his company, they were also to excel in this grace of giving.
Paul's strategy was plain. He first affirmed that through God's grace the Corinthians excelled in many areas of Christian living. Then he encouraged them to perform with the same excellence as they collected the donation for the church in Jerusalem. He spoke of giving in this way because he desired voluntary and generous contributions. It is easy for Christian financial responsibilities to be reduced to duty, but Paul chose his words carefully to portray this matter in a positive light. He hoped the Corinthians would see the opportunity to help the Jerusalem believers as a mercy from God.
A Test of Sincerity (8:8–9)
SUPPORTING IDEA: Paul sought generous and voluntary gifts for the poor in Jerusalem in order to test the sincerity of the Corinthian Christians.
8:8. Paul continued positively by denying that he was commanding the Corinthians to give. If they responded to an order or threat from him, then their giving would be from duty and not an “act of grace” (8:6). At the same time, he admitted that his encouragement was to test the sincerity of their love. It is difficult to determine the object of this love. Paul may have had in mind their love for him, their love for the believers in Jerusalem, or their love for Christ. The last option seems best in light of the immediate connection in the next verse and the comparison with the Macedonians who “gave themselves first to the Lord” (8:5). Paul sought to test the depths of the Corinthians' love and to encourage them to demonstrate that love by comparing it with the earnestness of others (the Macedonians).
8:9. Paul supported his call for demonstrating sincere love by reminding his readers of the sacrificial love of Christ. The Corinthians knew that Christ was rich in his preincarnate state. As the second person of the Trinity, Christ was exalted over all before the humiliation of his incarnation (cf. Phil. 2:5–8). Despite his eternal riches, Christ became poor when he came into the world so believers through his poverty might become rich. Christ's humiliation culminated in his death on the cross, and through his death came the riches of salvation.
Believers do not become rich through the sacrifice of Christ in the sense that they receive physical wealth in this life. According to Paul, our true wealth is the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14). Yet, as Paul told the Corinthians, in Christ all believers will inherit all the riches of the new world when Christ returns in glory.
The Corinthians were to be motivated by the example of Christ's love and generosity to give unselfishly to the poor in Jerusalem. Their response to this opportunity tested the sincerity of their love and appreciation for Christ.
MAIN IDEA REVIEW: When believers repent of waywardness, they find positive motivations for further obedience to Christ. Love and gratitude motivate them to express loyalty to Christ.
In this passage the apostle Paul expressed positive attitudes toward the Corinthian church. Although he sometimes wondered about the sincerity of their faith, here he affirmed his confidence in them. They had proven faithful to Paul's earlier instruction, and for this reason he commended them. He encouraged their further faithfulness motivated by gratitude and love.
PRINCIPLES
APPLICATIONS
Every Tuesday and Friday Ralph had to take out the garbage early in the morning before the truck arrived. “I hate doing this,” he often complained to his wife. “I just can't stand to take out the trash.” The complaints were so regular that they had become almost a ritual. The family expected him to grumble as he tied up the bags and dragged them out the front door.
But one morning his wife Judy was not so patient with Ralph's ritual. She blocked the front door with her foot and stared at her husband. “I wish that just one time you'd be happy to take out the garbage because you love us so much.”
Judy had a point. It is one thing to do the right thing because you are threatened or under compulsion. It is quite another to do the right thing because this expresses your love for someone. When we are motivated positively by things like gratitude and love, we take pleasure even in the most trying tasks.
Paul understood this, so in this part of 2 Corinthians he shifted his focus away from negative rebukes and warnings to more positive motivations. He focused on how the Corinthian believers could live for Christ out of gratitude and love. Although Paul's words focused primarily on contributions to the poor in Jerusalem, their implications apply to all areas of life.
In the first place, Christian leaders should learn from Paul's example that correction is only one way to encourage faithfulness among Christ's followers. It is easy for Christians to fall into the habit of criticizing. Our concern for others may mutate into judgmental negativity, making us concentrate on exposing and correcting sin. When this becomes our pattern of teaching in the church, legalism soon takes root. Paul's example cautions all of us to commend those who do good as well as correct those who do evil.
Further, as the Corinthians were to follow the example of Christ and the Macedonians in giving to the poor believers in Jerusalem, modern Christians should give to poor believers. Not every poor church or poor believer needs financial assistance. Yet, some churches and believers are so poor that they cannot meet their daily needs. We may not remember them often because they are geographically distant from us (as Jerusalem was from Corinth). Still, we bear a Christian duty to help them. Our love for Christ should motivate us to give generously, knowing that our giving blesses us as well.
Lord Jesus, we are grateful that your Spirit works within us, enabling us to respond faithfully to your Word. Fill our hearts with the joy of pleasing you and the desire to do all things for your glory. Amen.
A. Pride (7:4)
The Greek word kauchesis, translated as “pride,” and its verbal form kauchomai may carry either positive or negative connotations, much like the English word “proud” (as opposed to “prideful” which is always negative). Christians should take pride in God and in his works and laws (Rom. 2:17; Gal. 6:14). They may also take pride in their own merit (Phil. 2:16) or in that of others (1 Thess. 2:19). Christians should not take pride in themselves for things for which they do not deserve credit (1 Cor. 9:16).
B. Joy (7:4)
In Paul's writings, “joy” (chara) appears frequently. It usually relates to the coming of the kingdom of God and the work associated with it (Phil. 2:29; 4:1; Col. 1:11; Phlm. 1:7). It is especially the feeling a person has upon receiving that for which one hoped (2 Tim. 1:4). In the continuation of the kingdom before Christ's second coming, the promised blessings are realized in part, but not in full. Christians hope for those portions that have not been realized, and they rejoice over those that have been realized.
A. INTRODUCTION
C. CONCLUSION: JUST ONE TIME
True Repentance (7:8–13a)