서론
无标题
简体中文
英文原文
This chapter begins with an exhortation to progressive holiness and a due regard to the ministers of the gospel, 2Co 7:1-4. Then the apostle returns from a long digression to speak further of the affair concerning the incestuous person, and tells them what comfort he received in his distress about that matter, upon his meeting with Titus (2Co 7:5-7), and how re rejoiced in their repentance, with the evidences thereof, 2Co 7:8-11. And, lastly, he concludes with endeavouring to comfort the Corinthians, upon whom his admonitions had had so good an effect, 2Co 7:12-16.
1-4
Progressive Holiness (57 AD)
简体中文
渐进的圣洁 (公元57年)
¹ 亲爱的弟兄啊，我们既有这等应许，就当洁净自己，除去身体灵魂一切的污秽，敬畏 神，得以成圣。
² 你们要心地宽大收纳我们。我们未曾亏负谁，未曾败坏谁，未曾占谁的便宜。
³ 我说这话，不是要定你们的罪。我已经说过，你们常在我们心里，情愿与你们同生同死。
⁴ 我大大放胆向你们说话；我因你们多多夸口；满得安慰；我们在一切患难中分外的快乐。
这些经文包含双重的劝勉——
一、要在圣洁上有长进，或说*「敬畏 神，得以成圣」（林后 7:1）。这劝勉是带着最温柔的爱心向所亲爱的弟兄们发出的，并以强有力的论据来推动——就是前一章所提那些极大宝贵的应许，且是哥林多人有分、有权的。 神的应许是成圣的有力推动，包括其两方面：1. 向罪死，或治死我们的邪情和败坏：我们必须「洁净自己，除去身体灵魂一切的污秽。」罪就是污秽，有身体的污秽，也有心灵的污秽。有肉体的罪——就是用身体所犯的——也有心灵的罪，就是属灵的恶行；我们必须洁净这两方面的污秽，因为 神要因身体和灵魂同得荣耀。2. 向义而活，活出圣洁。我们若盼望 神是我们的父，就当努力「有分于他的圣洁」，要圣洁像他圣洁一样，完全像我们在天上的父完全一样。我们必须不断地得以成圣*，不可只满足于真诚（真诚是我们福音意义上的完全），而不以无罪的完全为目标——尽管我们在世上时总达不到这目标；而这件事我们必须*「在敬畏 神」之中行，这是所有信仰的根与原则，没有它就没有圣洁。注意，对 神应许的信心和盼望，不可废去我们对 神的敬畏——「耶和华喜爱敬畏他、盼望他慈爱的人。」*
二、对福音的使者当有适当的敬重：「你们要收纳我们」（林后 7:2）。那些劳苦传道教导人的，当*「被看为配得尊敬的」，「因他们所作的工，用爱心格外尊重他们」；这也有助于在圣洁上长进。福音的使者若因其职分而被人轻看，福音本身就有被藐视的危险。使徒并不以为向哥林多人求得他们的好感是有失身份的；虽然我们不可奉承人，却当向众人温柔。他告诉他们：1. 他未曾作过什么使他们失去尊重和好感的事，倒小心不作什么该受他们恶感的事（林后 7:2）：「我们未曾亏负谁」——我们未曾害你们，反倒常常为你们的好处打算。他对以弗所的长老说：「我未曾贪图一个人的金、银、衣服」（徒 20:33）。「我们未曾败坏谁」——未曾用错谬的教训或谄媚的话败坏人。「我们未曾占谁的便宜」——我们未曾图谋自己，未曾用诡诈贪婪的手段图谋自己的世俗利益，以致损害任何人。这呼吁正如撒母耳的呼吁（撒上 12:1-25）。注意，当传道人能坦然向会众呼吁，证明自己并未行什么该受轻视或不满之事时，便更能满怀信心地期待他们的尊重和好感。2. 他这样行，并非因他们对自己缺少爱心而责怪他们（林后 7:3-4）。使徒对哥林多人处事极其温柔谨慎，因他们中间有人巴不得有任何机会毁谤他，又在别人心里挑拨对他的成见。为防止有人因他所说的话产生误解——以为他有意指控他们亏负他，或诬告他亏负了他们——他再次向他们保证自己对他们的深情，甚至情愿在哥林多吐尽最后一口气，与他们同生同死——若不是他对其他教会的责任、以及他作使徒的职分（这职分不局限于一个地方）不容他如此行。他补充说，正因他对他们的深情，他才向他们如此「放胆」直言，并在各处、在各种场合因他们「夸口」——他「满得安慰，在我们一切患难中分外快乐」*。
英文原文
Progressive Holiness (57 AD)
¹ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
² Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
³ I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
⁴ Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
These verses contain a double exhortation:—
I. To make a progress in holiness, or to perfect holiness in the fear of God, 2Co 7:1. This exhortation is given with most tender affection to those who were dearly beloved, and enforced by strong arguments, even the consideration of those exceedingly great and precious promises which were mentioned in the former chapter, and which the Corinthians had an interest in and a title to. The promises of God are strong inducements to sanctification, in both the branches thereof; namely, 1. The dying unto sin, or mortifying our lusts and corruptions: we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Sin is filthiness, and there are defilements of body and mind. There are sins of the flesh, that are committed with the body, and sins of the spirit, spiritual wickednesses; and we must cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of both, for God is to be glorified both with body and soul. 2. The living unto righteousness and holiness. If we hope God is our Father, we must endeavour to be partakers of his holiness, to be holy as he is holy, and perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. We must be still perfecting holiness, and not be contented with sincerity (which is our gospel perfection), without aiming at sinless perfection, though we shall always come short of it while we are in this world; and this we must do in the fear of God, which is the root and principle of all religion, and there is no holiness without it. Note, Faith and hope in the promises of God must not destroy our fear of God, who taketh pleasure in those that fear him and hope in his mercy.
II. To show a due regard to the ministers of the gospel: Receive us, 2Co 7:2. Those who labour in the word and doctrine should be had in reputation, and be highly esteemed for their work's sake: and this would be a help to making progress in holiness. If the ministers of the gospel are thought contemptible because of their office, there is danger lest the gospel itself be contemned also. The apostle did not think it any disparagement to court the favour of the Corinthians; and, though we must flatter none, yet we must be gentle towards all. He tells them, 1. He had done nothing to forfeit their esteem and good-will, but was cautious not to do any thing to deserve their ill-will (2Co 7:2): "We have wronged no man: we have done you no harm, but always designed your good." I have coveted no man's silver, nor gold, nor apparel, said he to the elders of Ephesus, Ac 20:33. "We have corrupted no man, by false doctrines or flattering speeches. We have defrauded no man; we have not sought ourselves, nor to promote our own secular interests by crafty and greedy measures, to the damage of any persons." This is an appeal like that of Samuel, 1Sa 12:1-25. Note, Then may ministers the more confidently expect esteem and favour from the people when they can safely appeal to them that they are guilty of nothing that deserves disesteem or displeasure. 2. He did not herein reflect upon them for want of affection to him, 2Co 7:3,4. So tenderly and cautiously did the apostle deal with the Corinthians, among whom there were some who would be glad of any occasion to reproach him, and prejudice the minds of others against him. To prevent any insinuations against him on account of what he had said, as if he intended to charge them with wronging him, or unjust accusations of him for having wronged them, he assures them again of his great affection to them, insomuch that he could spend his last breath at Corinth, and live and die with them, if his business with other churches, and his work as an apostle (which was not to be confined to one place only), would permit him to do so. An he adds it was his great affection to them that made him use such boldness or freedom of speech towards them, and caused him to glory, or make his boast of them, in all places, and upon all occasions, being filled with comfort, and exceedingly joyful in all their tribulations.
5-11
Various Exhortations (57 AD)
简体中文
各样的劝勉 (公元57年)
⁵ 我们从前到了马其顿的时候，身体也不得安宁，周围遇患难；外有争战，内有惧怕。
⁶ 但那安慰丧气之人的 神，借着提多来安慰了我们；
⁷ 不但借着他来，也借着他从你们所得的安慰安慰了我们，因他把你们的想念、哀恸和向我的热心，都告诉了我，叫我更加欢喜。
⁸ 我先前写信叫你们忧愁，我后来虽然懊悔，如今却不懊悔，因我知道那信叫你们忧愁，不过是暂时的。
⁹ 如今我欢喜，不是因你们忧愁，是因你们从忧愁中生出懊悔来；你们依着 神的意思忧愁，凡事就不因我们受损害了。
¹⁰ 因为依着 神的意思忧愁，就生出没有后悔的懊悔来，以致得救；但世俗的忧愁是叫人死。
¹¹ 你看，你们依着 神的意思忧愁，从此就生出何等的殷勤、自诉、怨恨、恐惧、想念、热心、自责！在这一切事上，你们都表明自己是洁净的。
林后 2:13 与林后 7:5 之间似乎有连贯之处（使徒在那里说，他在特罗亚没有遇见提多，心里便不安）；他既对哥林多人有如此深情，又如此关心他们对那犯罪者的处置，所以在继续前行时，他一直不得安宁，直到听见他们的消息。如今他告诉他们——
一、他如何受苦（林后 7:5）。他在特罗亚没有遇见提多时就忧愁，后来在马其多尼有一段时间也没有遇见他：这使他忧愁，因为他不能听见他在哥林多所受的接待如何，他们的事又如何进展。除此之外，他们还遭遇别的患难，遭遇不断如风暴的逼迫；有*「外有争战」——就是与犹太人和外邦人不断相争、不断受他们反对；并有「内有惧怕」*——就是为那些已接受基督教信仰的人大大挂心，恐怕他们被败坏或被引诱，并给别人绊脚或被别人绊倒。
二、他如何得安慰（林后 7:6-7）。在此请注意：1. 提多来到，本身就是一种安慰。看见他——这位他长久渴慕、盼望遇见的人——是喜乐的事。提多和他的同伴来到——提多在共信之道上如同他的*「真儿子」（多 1:4）——这对在旅途中受苦的使徒是大安慰。2. 提多所带来关于哥林多人的好消息，更是更大的安慰。他发现提多因他们而得安慰；这就使使徒满得安慰——尤其当提多告诉他，他们何等恳切地要在使徒所写信论到的事上叫人满意；又告诉他们因他们中间所发生的丑闻、并他们给别人造成的极大忧愁而哀痛；并告诉他们因使徒如此忠实地责备他们的过错，而对使徒大发热心、深表情意：所罗门的观察何等真实（箴 28:23）：「责备人的，后来蒙人喜悦，胜过那用舌头谄媚人的。」* 3. 他把一切安慰都归给 神为源头。是 神借提多的来临安慰了他，就是赐各样安慰的 神：「那安慰丧气之人的 神」（林后 7:6）。注意，我们当越过一切方法和器皿，仰望 神为一切安慰和我们一切享受之善的源头。
三、他何等因他们的悔改和悔改的凭据而欢喜。使徒忧伤，因他曾叫他们忧愁——他们中间有些敬虔人把他前一封信里的话，极深地放在心上；又因他不得不叫那些他本宁愿叫他们喜乐的人忧愁（林后 7:8）。但如今他欢喜了，因为他发现他们*「从忧愁中生出懊悔来」（林后 7:9）。他们的忧愁本身并不是他喜乐的缘由；但忧愁的性质和果效——「以致得救的懊悔」（林后 7:10）——使他喜乐；因为如今显明他们因他毫未受损害。他们的忧愁「不过是暂时的」*；它已变为喜乐，并且那喜乐是持久的。在此请注意——
-
真实悔改的前因是依着 神意思的忧愁；这忧愁生出懊悔。它本身并不是懊悔，却是懊悔的好预备，并在某种意义上是产生懊悔的原因。犯罪者大有忧愁，他几乎要*「忧愁太过而被吞灭」；那本来自高自大的教会也大大忧愁；他们的忧愁是「依着 神的意思」*（原文作「照着 神」），就是照 神的旨意、归于 神的荣耀、并借着 神的灵而成的。这是依着 神意思的忧愁，因为是因罪而忧愁——罪是得罪 神、是忘恩的实例、是失去 神恩惠的。这种敬虔的忧愁与世俗的忧愁之间有极大的分别。敬虔的忧愁产生悔改和改正，并以救恩为终；世俗的忧愁却叫人死。世俗之人为世俗之事的忧愁，必叫白发早日临到坟墓；而像犹大那样甚至为罪的忧愁，必有致命的后果，正如他所遭遇的——那忧愁生出死来。注意：（1）悔改必伴随着救恩。因此，（2）真实的悔改者总不后悔他已悔改，也不后悔任何有助于悔改的事。（3）在悔改以先，谦卑和敬虔的忧愁是必要的，二者都是从 神——赐各样恩惠的主——而来的。
-
真实悔改的美好果实和后果被提及（林后 7:11）；而那些*「与悔改相称的果子」是悔改最好的凭据。心既改变，生活和行事也必改变。哥林多人明显地表明，他们的忧愁是敬虔的忧愁，是产生悔改的忧愁，因为它在他们里面生发出对自己灵魂的大殷勤——为要避免犯罪、讨 神喜悦；它也生出自诉*——并非坚持自己在 神面前为义——尤其是在他们仍停留在罪中时——而是借着努力除掉那当灭之物，好叫自己脱离认可已行之恶的公正归咎。它生出对罪的怨恨——对自己、对试探者和他的器皿发怒；生出恐惧——敬畏的恐惧、警醒的恐惧，以及不信任的恐惧——不是不信任 神，而是不信任自己；对 神存敬畏之心，对罪存谨慎之惧，对自己存警惕之忧。它生出对彻底纠正所行的错、并与所得罪的 神和好的恳切愿望。它生出热心——爱心与怒气的混合，为尽本分的火热和对罪的怒气。末了，它生出自责——对罪和自己愚妄的报复，借着努力为因罪所造成的伤害作一切当有的补偿。这样，「在这一切事上，你们都表明自己是洁净的。」 并非他们无罪，而是他们已悔改，所以在 神面前已脱离罪咎——他必赦免而不刑罚他们；他们既已真实悔改，人也不当再责备他们，更不当因他们已悔改之事而毁谤他们。
英文原文
Various Exhortations (57 AD)
⁵ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
⁶ Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
⁷ And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
⁸ For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
¹¹ For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
There seems to be a connection between 2Co 2:13,7:5 (where the apostle said he had no rest in his spirit when he found not Titus at Troas) and the 2Co 2:13,7:5: and so great was his affection to the Corinthians, and his concern about their behaviour in relation to the incestuous person, that, in his further travels, he still had no rest till he heard from them. And now he tells them,
I. How he was distressed, 2Co 7:5. He was troubled when he did not meet with Titus at Troas, and afterwards when for some time he did not meet with him in Macedonia: this was a grief to him, because he could not hear what reception he met with at Corinth, nor how their affairs went forward. And, besides this, they met with other troubles, with incessant storms of persecutions; there were fightings without, or continual contentions with, and opposition from, Jews and Gentiles; and there were fears within, and great concern for such as had embraced the Christian faith, lest they should be corrupted or seduced, and give scandal to others, or be scandalized.
II. How he was comforted, 2Co 7:6,7. Here observe, 1. The very coming of Titus was some comfort to him. It was matter of joy to see him, whom he long desired and expected to meet with. The very coming of Titus and his company, who was dear to him as his own son in the common faith (Tit 1:4), was a great comfort to the apostle in his travels and troubles. But, 2. The good news which Titus brought concerning the Corinthians was matter of greater consolation. He found Titus to be comforted in them; and this filled the apostle with comfort, especially when he acquainted him with their earnest desire to give good satisfaction in the things about which the apostle had written to them; and of their mourning for the scandal that was found among them and the great grief they had caused to others, and their fervent mind or great affection towards the apostle, who had dealt so faithfully with them in reproving their faults: so true is the observation of Solomon (Pr 28:23), He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with his tongue. 3. He ascribes all his comfort to God as the author. It was God who comforted him by the coming of Titus, even the God of all comfort: God, who comforteth those that are cast down, 2Co 7:6. Note, We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, unto God, as the author of all the consolation and the good that we enjoy.
III. How greatly he rejoiced at their repentance, and the evidences thereof. The apostle was sorry that he had grieved them, that some pious persons among them laid to heart very greatly what he said in his former epistle, or that it was needful he should make those sorry whom he would rather have made glad, 2Co 7:8. But now he rejoiced, when he found they had sorrowed to repentance, 2Co 7:9. Their sorrow in itself was not the cause of his rejoicing; but the nature of it, and the effect of it (repentance unto salvation, 2Co 7:10), made him rejoice; for now it appeared that they had received damage by him in nothing. Their sorrow was but for a season; it was turned into joy, and that joy was durable. Observe here,
1. The antecedent of true repentance is godly sorrow; this worketh repentance. It is not repentance itself, but it is a good preparative to repentance, and in some sense the cause that produces repentance. The offender had great sorrow, he was in danger of being swallowed up with overmuch sorrow; and the society was greatly sorrowful which before was puffed up: and this sorrow of theirs was after a godly manner, or according to God (as it is in the original), that is, it was according to the will of God, tended to the glory of God, and was wrought by the Spirit of God. It was a godly sorrow, because a sorrow for sin, as an offence against God, an instance of ingratitude, and a forfeiture of God's favour. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort and the sorrow of this world. Godly sorrow produces repentance and reformation, and will end in salvation; but worldly sorrow worketh death. The sorrows of worldly men for worldly things will bring down gray hairs the sooner to the grave, and such a sorrow even for sin as Judas had will have fatal consequences, as his had, which wrought death. Note, (1.) Repentance will be attended with salvation. Therefore, (2.) True penitents will never repent that they have repented, nor of any thing that was conducive thereto. (3.) Humiliation and godly sorrow are previously necessary in order to repentance, and both of them are from God, the giver of all grace.
2. The happy fruits and consequences of true repentance are mentioned (2Co 7:11); and those fruits that are meet for repentance are the best evidences of it. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed too. The Corinthians made it evident that their sorrow was a godly sorrow, and such as wrought repentance, because it wrought in them great carefulness about their souls, and to avoid sin, and please God; it wrought also a clearing of themselves, not by insisting upon their own justification before God, especially while they persisted in their sin, but by endeavours to put away the accursed thing, and so free themselves from the just imputation of approving the evil that had been done. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments; it wrought fear, a fear of reverence, a fear of watchfulness, and a fear of distrust, not a distrust of God, but of themselves; an awful fear of God, a cautious fear of sin, and a jealous fear of themselves. It wrought vehement desires after a thorough reformation of what had been amiss, and of reconciliation with God whom they had offended. It wrought zeal, a mixture of love and anger, a zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought, lastly, revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make all due satisfaction for injuries that might be done thereby. And thus in all things had they approved themselves to be clear in that matter. Not that they were innocent, but that they were penitent, and therefore clear of guilt before God, who would pardon and not punish them; and they ought no longer to be reproved, much less to be reproached, by men, for what they had truly repented of.
12-16
Case of Incestuous Person (57 AD)
简体中文
犯乱伦之人的案件 (公元57年)
¹² 这样看来，我虽然写过信给你们，却不是为那亏负人的，也不是为那受人亏负的，乃要在 神面前把你们顾念我们的热心表明出来。
¹³ 故此，我们得了安慰。并且除去这安慰之外，我们因提多喜乐，就越发更加喜乐，因为他的心从你们众人得了畅快。
¹⁴ 我若对提多夸奖了你们什么，也觉得没有惭愧；因我对提多夸奖你们的话成了真的，正如我们对你们所说的话也是真的。
¹⁵ 并且提多想起你们众人的顺服，怎样恐惧战兢地接待他，他爱你们的心肠就越发增加了。
¹⁶ 我如今欢喜，因为我在凡事上因你们可以放心了。
在这些经文中，使徒竭力安慰那些因他的劝诫而得了如此美好果效的哥林多人。为达此目的，1. 他告诉他们，他前一书信（也许显得严厉）乃是有好意（林后 7:12）。那*「不是为那亏负人的」——不是单为那犯罪者的益处，更不是为要他受罚；也不是单「为那受人亏负的」——就是那位受辱的父亲，为要使他能得着所能给予的补偿；而是为了显明他对他们、对整个教会的极大真诚关切和「顾念」*，免得教会因任凭这样的罪和其丑闻留在他们中间而不予正当的关注和愤慨而受亏损。2. 他告诉他们，因着他们的悔改和好行为，提多和他自己都大有喜乐。提多因他们的安慰而喜乐，心得畅快，这也使使徒得安慰、得喜乐（林后 7:13）；而提多既在他们那里得了安慰，及至回想起他在他们中间所受的接待——他们顺服使徒的指示，并在所受的责备中恐惧战兢——这些回忆就更加激发并增添他对他们的情谊（林后 7:15）。注意，极大的安慰和喜乐随着属神的忧愁而来。罪既招致普遍的忧愁，照样悔改和改正也招致普遍的喜乐。保罗喜乐，提多喜乐，哥林多人得安慰，那悔改者也当得安慰；这一切喜乐在地上都是应当的，因为天上也是这样为一个罪人悔改而欢喜。3. 他以表明对他们完全的信赖来结束这整件事：他对向提多所夸的他们的话并不惭愧（林后 7:14）；因为他对他们的期望并未落空——他曾向提多提过这期望，如今他能以极大的喜乐宣告：他在凡事上仍对他们放心，并不怀疑他们日后会有好行为。注意，一位忠心的传道人若能与一群他可以信赖、并且有理由期望他们会顺从他为 神的荣耀、为福音的声望、为他们自己的益处所提出的一切的百姓相处，乃是极大的安慰和喜乐。
英文原文
Case of Incestuous Person (57 AD)
¹² Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
¹³ Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
¹⁴ For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
¹⁵ And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
¹⁶ I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
In these verses the apostle endeavours to comfort the Corinthians, upon whom his admonitions had had such good effect. And in order thereto, 1. He tells them he had a good design in his former epistle, which might be thought severe, 2Co 7:12. It was not chiefly for his cause that did the wrong, not only for his benefit, much less merely that he should be punished; nor was it merely for his cause that suffered wrong, namely, the injured father, and that he might have what satisfaction could be given him; but it was also to manifest his great and sincere concern and care for them, for the whole church, lest that should suffer by letting such a crime, and the scandal thereof, remain among them without due remark and resentment. 2. He acquaints them with the joy of Titus as well as of himself upon the account of their repentance and good behaviour. Titus was rejoiced, and his spirit refreshed, with their comfort, and this comforted and rejoiced the apostle also (2Co 7:13); and, as Titus was comforted while he was with them, so when he remembered his reception among them, expressing their obedience to the apostolical directions, and their fear and trembling at the reproofs that were given them, the thoughts of these things inflamed and increased his affections to them, 2Co 7:15. Note, Great comfort and joy follow upon godly sorrow. As sin occasions general grief, so repentance and reformation occasion general joy. Paul was glad, and Titus was glad, and the Corinthians were comforted, and the penitent ought to be comforted; and well may all this joy be on earth, when there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. 3. He concludes this whole matter with expressing the entire confidence he had in them: He was not ashamed of his boasting concerning them to Titus (2Co 7:14); for he was not disappointed in his expectation concerning them, which he signified to Titus, and he could now with great joy declare what confidence he still had in them as to all things, that he did not doubt of their good behaviour for the time to come. Note, It is a great comfort and joy to a faithful minister to have to do with a people whom he can confide in, and who he has reason to hope will comply with every thing he proposes to them that is for the glory of God, the credit of the gospel, and their advantage.
第七章概述 (公元57年)
本章以一段对追求渐进的圣洁以及敬重福音使者的劝勉开始（林后 7:1-4）。随后使徒从一段冗长的离题话中返回，进一步论到那涉及犯乱伦之人的事，告诉他们自己在为那事忧愁之中，因遇见提多而得的安慰（林后 7:5-7），以及他因他们的悔改和悔改的证据而有的喜乐（林后 7:8-11）。最后，他竭力安慰那些因他的劝诫而得了如此美好果效的哥林多人（林后 7:12-16）。