The apostle returns to his own relationships with the Corinthians-relations
formed by the word of his ministry. And now having laid open what this
ministry really was, he seeks to prevent the bonds being broken, which had
been formed by this ministry between the Corinthians and himself through
the power of the Holy Ghost.
"Receive us: we have wronged no one"-he is anxious not to wound the
feelings of these restored ones, who found themselves again in their old
affection for the apostle, and thus in their true relation with God. "I do
not say this to condemn you," he adds; "for I have said before that ye are
in my heart to die and live with you. My boldness is great towards you,
great is my glorying of you. I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding
joyful in all my tribulation." He is not now unfolding the principles of
the ministry, but the heart of a minister, all that he had felt with regard
to the state of the Corinthians. When he had arrived in Macedonia (whither,
it will be remembered, he had gone without visiting Corinth), after he had
left Troas, because he did not find Titus there, who was to bring him the
answer to his first letter to the Corinthians-when he was come into
Macedonia, his flesh had no rest there either; he was troubled on every
side: without were fightings, within were fears. There however God, who
comforts those who are cast down, comforted him by the arrival of Titus,
for whom he had waited with so much anxiety; and not only by his coming,
but by the good news he brought from Corinth. His joy went beyond all his
sorrow, for his heart was to die and live with them. He saw the moral
fruits of the operation of the Spirit, their desire, their tears, their
zeal with regard to the apostle; and his heart turns again to them in order
to bind up, by the expression of his affection, all the wounds (needful as
they were) which his first letter might have made in their hearts.
Nothing more touching than the conflict in his heart between the necessity
he had felt, on account of their previous state, to write to them with
severity, and in some sort with a cold authority, and the affections which,
now that the effect had been produced, dictated almost an apology for the
grief he might have caused them. If, he says, I made you sorry by the
letter, I do not repent: even though he might have repented and had done so
for a moment. For he saw that the letter had grieved them, were it but for
a season. But now he rejoiced, not that they had been made sorry, but that
they had sorrowed unto repentance. What solicitude! What a heart for the
good of the saints! If they had a fervent mind towards him, assuredly he
had given them the occasion and the motive. No rest till he had tidings:
nothing, not open doors, nor distress, could remove his anxiety. He regrets
perhaps having written the letter, fearing that he had alienated the hearts
of the Corinthians; and now, still pained at the thought of having grieved
them, he rejoices, not at having grieved them, but because their godly
sorrow had wrought repentance.
He writes a letter according to the energy of the Holy Ghost. Left to the
affections of his heart, we see him, in this respect, below the level of
the energy of inspiration which had dictated that letter which the
spiritual were to acknowledge as the commandments of the Lord; his heart
trembles at the thought of its consequences, when he receives no tidings.
It is very interesting to see the difference between the individuality of
the apostle and inspiration. In the first letter we remarked the
distinction which he makes between that which he said as the result of his
experience, and the commandments of the Lord communicated through him. Here
we find the difference in the experience itself. He forgets the character
of his epistle for a moment, and, given up to his affections, he fears to
have lost the Corinthians by the effort he had made to reclaim them. The
form of the expression he uses shews that it was but for a moment that this
sentiment took possession of his heart. But the fact that he had it plainly
shews the difference between Paul the individual and Paul the inspired
writer.
Now he is satisfied. The expression of this deep interest which he feels
for them is a part of his ministry, and valuable instruction for us, to
shew the way in which the heart enters into the exercise of this ministry,
the flexibility of this mighty energy of love, in order to win and bend
hearts by the opportune expression of that which is passing in our own: an
expression which will assuredly take place when the occasion makes it right
and natural, if the heart is filled with affection; for a strong affection
likes to make itself known to its object, if possible, according to the
truth of that affection. There is a grief of heart which consumes it, but a
heart that feels godly sorrow is on the way to repentance. [see note #10]
[see note #10] Greatness of heart does not readily talk about feelings, because it
thinks of others, not of itself. But it is not afraid, when occasion
arises, to do so; because it thinks of others, and has a depth of purpose
in its affections, which is behind all this movement of them. And
Christianity gives greatness of heart. And besides, from its nature, it is
confiding, and this wins, and gives unsought, influence this greatness of
heart does not seek, for it is unselfish. His true relationship for their
good the apostle did maintain.
The apostle then sets forth the fruits of this godly sorrow, the zeal
against sin it had produced, the heart's holy rejection of all association
with sin. Now also that they had morally separated themselves, he separates
those who were not guilty from those who were so. He will no longer
confound them together. They had confounded themselves together morally by
walking at ease with those who were in sin. By putting away the sin they
were now outside the evil: and the apostle shews that it was with a view to
their good, because he was devoted to them, that he had written to testify
the loving occupation of his thoughts about them, and to put to the test
their love for him before God. Sad as their walk had been, he had assured
Titus, when encouraging him to go to Corinth, that he would certainly find
hearts there that would respond to this appeal of apostolic affection. He
had not been disappointed, and as he had declared the truth among them,
that which he had said of them to Titus was found true also, and the
affections of Titus himself were strongly awakened when he saw it.
