2 - 4 The Appeal Resumed
Paul continues his appeal for the Corinthians to open their hearts.
5 - 16 Paul's Joy at the Church's Repentance
Paul states that he is not sorry his letter brought sadness because it caused the church to repent. He tells how grief and sorrow can lead to repentance (and therefore joy)
2 comments:
Paul asks them to start anew, purify themselves, and perfect their holiness through reverence for God.
He tells them how proud he is of them because they have, like him, encountered tests and hardships through which they have always returned to their faith and God.
He had written them a letter, apparently scolding them, which led them to repentance rather than worldly anger or sorrow (seeming hopeless).
He points out how encouraging this is to him and should be to them. They are "on the right track" because they seek God and return to Him when they falter. All this was evident to Titus who saw all this for himself, separately, and confirmed this good news.
This should be very encouraging to us because we are like the Corinthinas. We are let astray from our faith from time to time but as long as we recognize it, desire to seek God's truth, and return to him WE ARE HIS! The main point of this letter so far is that the false teacher have made the Corinthians question Paul's validity. They aren't sure which minister to believe. This happens to us sometimes. It starts from getting out of good Christian habits like going to church, reading the Bible, having Christian friends, etc. When good habits decline, bad habits increase. Being saved doesn't make us perfect, it just gives a way to achieve the impossible. Again, it's a journey, not a single event.
Great notes as usual, J.P.
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