2 Corinthians 7:2-16 Godly vs Worldly Sorrow

[Solo Christo]

The sermon at church yesterday was on 2 Corinthians 7:2-16

CLV Wrote:2Co 7:2 Make room for us. We injure no one; we corrupt no one; we overreach no one.
2Co 7:3 I am not saying this with a view to condemnation, for I have declared before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together."
2Co 7:4 Much is my boldness toward you; much is my boasting over you, I am filled full with consolation,
2Co 7:5 I am superexceeding in joy in all our affliction. For even at our coming into Macedonia, our flesh has no ease, but we are afflicted in everything: outside fightings; inside fears."
2Co 7:6 But God, Who is consoling the humble, consoles us by the presence of Titus,
2Co 7:7 yet not only by his presence, but by the consolation also with which he was consoled over you, informing us of your longing, your anguish, your zeal for my sake; so that I rather rejoice that,
2Co 7:8 even if I make you sorry by an epistle, I am not regretting it, even if I did regret. For I am observing that that epistle makes you sorry, even if it is for an hour."
2Co 7:9 Now I am rejoicing, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry according to God, that in nothing you may suffer forfeit by us."
2Co 7:10 For sorrow according to God is producing repentance for unregretted salvation, yet the sorrow of the world is producing death."
2Co 7:11 For lo! this same thing-for you to made sorry according to God - how much it produces in you of diligence, nay, defense, nay, resentment, nay, fear, nay, longing, nay, zeal, nay, avenging! In everything you commend yourselves to be pure in this matter."
2Co 7:12 Consequently, even if I write to you, it is not on account of the one who injures, but neither on account of the one being injured, but on account of manifesting to you your diligence for our sake in God's sight."
2Co 7:13 Therefore we are consoled, yet in our consolation we rather rejoiced more exceedingly in the joy of Titus, for his spirit has been soothed by you all,
2Co 7:14 for, if I have boasted any to him over you, I was not disgraced, but as we speak all in truth to you, thus also our boasting before Titus came to be truth."
2Co 7:15 And his compassions for you are superabundantly more, having a recollection of the obedience of you all, as, with fear and trembling, you receive him."
2Co 7:16 I am rejoicing that in everything I am encouraged in you.

Paul expresses deep love for the Corinthians (e.g. “you are in our hearts to die together and to live together”), and is relieved to hear that his letter, even though it caused sorrow (v9), that it was sorrow that resulted in repentance. Whereas he insightfully points out that “the sorrow of the world is producing death” (v10).

As always, Paul’s “superexceeding” joy (v5), even in affliction, is an impressive witness to the power of the Holy Spirit within him.

The preacher was encouraging in the way he expanded on the passage and gave examples of both godly & worldly sorrow, and explored how the former leads to repentance - turning to the Cross - and the latter to death.

[Vic]

"superexceeding" is a made up word. It does not exist except here. It reminds me of the made up words in Eugene Peterson's The Message.

Let's get the whole context and passage. Not sure why verse 1 was omitted, because it is very important. And am going to include the end of chapter 6 because it leads into 7:1 referring to 'these promises".

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2Co 7:1 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.
2Co 7:2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
2Co 7:3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
2Co 7:4 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.
2Co 7:5 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.
2Co 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
2Co 7:7 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.
2Co 7:8 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.
2Co 7:9 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.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 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.
2Co 7:12 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.
2Co 7:13 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.
2Co 7:14 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.
2Co 7:15 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.
2Co 7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.