2 Corinthians 7:4-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:8

For though I made you sorry with a letter ,.... His former epistle, relating to the incestuous person: I do not repent, though I did repent ; not of writing the letter, which was wrote by divine inspiration; but of the sorrow occasioned by it, though now he did not repent of that: for I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though it were but for a season ; inasmuch as the sorrow was true, hearty, and genuine, though it was but for a time, the apostle was entirely satisfied,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:9

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry ,.... Their grief and sorrow, as a natural passion, was no matter or cause of joy to him; nor was this what he sought after, being what he could take no real pleasure in; for so far as that was a pain to them, it was a pain to him: but that ye sorrowed to repentance ; their sorrow issued in true evangelical repentance, and this was the ground of his rejoicing; for as there is joy in heaven among the angels, at the repentance of a sinner, so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation ,.... These words contain a reason, proving that they had received no damage, but profit by the sorrow that had possessed them, from the nature of it, a "godly" sorrow; a sorrow which had God for its author; it did not arise from the power of free will, nor from the dictates of a natural conscience, nor from a work of the law on their hearts, or from a fear of hell and damnation, but it sprung from the free grace of God; it was a gift of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:11

For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort ,.... The apostle proceeds to describe godly sorrow by its effects, which are so many evidences of the sincerity and genuineness of it; some of the things mentioned are peculiar to the case of the Corinthians, and others common to evangelical repentance in any: what carefulness it wrought in you ; to remove the incestuous person from communion with them, which they were very negligent of before; to sin no more after... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:12

Wherefore, though l wrote unto you ,.... Meaning in his former epistle, with so much sharpness and severity, and as may have been thought too much: I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong ; not for the sake of the incestuous person only and chiefly, not merely for his correction and restoration; though these things were intended, and earnestly desired by the apostle: nor for his cause that suffered wrong : that is, the father of the incestuous person, who had been injured... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:13

Therefore we were comforted in your comfort ,.... In the comfortable situation the church was in; not in their grief and sorrow, as a natural passion, but in the effects of it as a godly sorrow; by which it appeared that their repentance was genuine, and that they were clear in the matter that had given so much trouble; and that things had so well succeeded for the welfare and more comfortable estate of the church for the future. The comfortable estate, flourishing condition, and well being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:14

For if I have boasted anything to him of you ,.... As of their faith in Christ, of their liberality to the saints, their affection for him, and obedience to him as children to a father: I am not ashamed ; since these all appeared to be true; as he must have been had they been otherwise: but as we spake all things to you in truth ; that is, our preaching among you was true; all the doctrines we delivered to you were truth; our word was not yea and nay, but uniform, and all of a piece:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:15

And his inward affection is more abundant toward you ,.... Or "his bowels"; denoting the tenderness of his heart, the strength of his affections, which inwardly and to a very great degree moved towards them; especially whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all ; to him, and to me by him; to the advice and orders given, which were so readily, cheerfully, and universally complied with; and how with fear and trembling you received him ; that is, with great humility and respect,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:16

I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. That I can speak freely and boldly to you, reprove, admonish, and advise you, since you take it all in good part, as I design it; that I can confidently speak in your favour, boast of your love and obedience, which is found upon trial and by experience to be truth; and that I can promise myself every good thing from you, that is proper to ask of you, and lies in your power to perform; which he says partly to commend them for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my boldness of speech - He seems to refer to the manner in which he spoke of them to others. Great is my glorying of you - They had probably been very loving and affectionate previously to the time in which they were perverted by their false apostle. He therefore had boasted of them in all the Churches. I am filled with comfort - My affection for you has still the most powerful ascendancy in my soul. Here we may see the affection of the most tender father to his children. ... read more

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