2 Corinthians 7:13 kjv
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.
2 Corinthians 7:13 nkjv
Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
2 Corinthians 7:13 niv
By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
2 Corinthians 7:13 esv
Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
2 Corinthians 7:13 nlt
We have been greatly encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease.
2 Corinthians 7 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 7:11 | For you yourselves know that it is our joy to contend for the gospel, that we might not be prevented from going on with our instruction, our earnestness, our readiness to defend ourselves, our zeal, our eagerness to set things right. | |
| 2 Cor 7:7 | he was not grieved, for he saw that although you grieved him temporarily, you were not saddened, but corrected. | Paul's previous grief now turned to joy. |
| 1 Cor 5:2 | And you are puffed up, and rather would mourn, and were not yet put out of the way him that had done this deed. | Contrasting previous unresponsiveness to this repentance. |
| Eph 4:30 | And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | The grief mentioned is God-honoring sorrow. |
| Phil 2:12 | So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. | Highlights the personal effort and diligence in their response. |
| James 1:2 | Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into trials of various kinds. | The "grief" led to spiritual progress. |
| Gal 4:18 | It is good to be zealous for good always, and not only when I am with you. | Echoes the Corinthians' renewed zeal. |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and abandons them shall find mercy. | Their confession and abandonment of sin led to mercy. |
| Acts 2:37-38 | Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” | |
| Luke 15:7 | I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. | Similar joy experienced by God over repentance. |
| Matt 18:15 | If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. | The principle of confrontation and correction leading to restoration. |
| John 16:8 | And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. | The Holy Spirit's role in convicting of sin. |
| Rom 8:16 | The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. | |
| 1 Thess 4:9 | Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for me to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. | Demonstrates learned behavior from God. |
| 1 John 4:7 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. | |
| 2 Cor 1:4 | who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. | Paul is comforted, enabling him to comfort others. |
| 2 Cor 2:4 | For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. | Ties to the pain and love in his previous letter. |
| 2 Cor 6:11-13 | Our mouths have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our hearts are wide open. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open your hearts also. | Reinforces the desire for open affection and response. |
| 2 Cor 8:7 | But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in the love that you have for us—see that you excel in this gracious work also. | Similar commendation of their positive attributes. |
| 2 Cor 10:15-16 | We do not want to boast beyond proper limits, but to the extent of the limits of the work God gave us, which includes you, that we might have hope that, when your faith is increased, we might be gloriously enlarged among you, to preach the gospel even to regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has already been accomplished within your area of responsibility. | Connects the Corinthians' progress to the expansion of the gospel. |
| 1 Thess 2:19-20 | For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. | Highlights Paul's boasting and joy in the Corinthians' spiritual progress. |
2 Corinthians 7 verses
2 Corinthians 7 13 Meaning
The verse celebrates the positive response of the Corinthians to Paul's corrective letter. Their earnestness, readiness to defend themselves, and genuine sorrow over their sin brought Paul joy and comfort, reaffirming the strength and purity of their faith and their relationship with him.
2 Corinthians 7 13 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 7 continues Paul's defense of his apostleship and the integrity of his ministry, contrasting his gentleness and love with the harshness of false apostles. He has written a previous, painful letter (likely the "severe letter" mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4 and 10:9-10), which evidently caused great sorrow among the Corinthians. This present chapter describes the positive effects of that painful correction. Their sorrow, however, was a godly sorrow that led to repentance and ultimately, comfort and renewed fellowship. This verse specifically addresses the positive emotions Paul experienced as a result of their sincere repentance and subsequent affirmation of his ministry. The Corinthians' earnestness and clear conscience served to comfort Paul, demonstrating the effectiveness of his corrective discipline.
2 Corinthians 7 13 Word Analysis
- "Now": Greek: nyn (νῦν). Indicates immediacy and the current situation, contrasting with the past pain.
- "when": Greek: hopote (ὁπότε). Signifies the opportune moment or the circumstance under which something occurs.
- "I saw": Greek: idein (ἰδεῖν). Aorist infinitive of horaō (ὁράω), meaning to see or behold, implying a realization or confirmation.
- "your": Greek: humōn (ὑμῶν). Possessive pronoun referring to the Corinthian believers.
- "earnestness": Greek: spoudēn (σπουδήν). Accusative noun of spoudē, signifying haste, eagerness, diligence, or zealous effort. It reflects their serious and diligent response to his correction. This word often appears in contexts of strong commitment and purpose.
- "readiness": Greek: hetoimasian (ἑτοιμασίαν). Accusative noun of hetoimasia, meaning preparation, readiness, or a state of being prepared. It suggests they were prepared and willing to engage with the issues Paul had raised.
- "to defend yourselves": Greek: apologeisthai (ἀπολογεῖσθαι). Present passive infinitive of apologeomai (ἀπολογέομαι), meaning to make a defense or give an account. This indicates their active stance in responding to the situation and likely to his charges. It implies they cleared themselves of any wrongdoing in the context of the matter.
- "my": Greek: mou (μου). Possessive pronoun of the first person singular.
- "joy": Greek: charan (χαρὰν). Accusative noun of chara, meaning joy, delight, gladness. Paul's own emotional state is here declared as joyful because of their response.
Word Group Analysis:
- "your earnestness, your readiness to defend yourselves": This phrase ("your spoudē, your hetoimasia to apologeîsthai") highlights the active and committed nature of the Corinthians' repentance. It's not passive regret but an engaged response characterized by zeal (spoudē) and preparedness (hetoimasia) to account for themselves (apologeîsthai), likely in relation to the issues that had caused grief. This reflects a deep spiritual conviction leading to tangible actions.
2 Corinthians 7 13 Bonus Section
The verse showcases the vital role of both rigorous pastoral discipline and the believer's active repentance in the life of the church. Paul's stern actions were motivated by deep love (2 Cor 2:4), and the Corinthians' response, characterized by godly sorrow, led to spiritual restoration and deeper intimacy with God and Paul. This passage reinforces the understanding that true repentance is not merely emotional but involves a transformed mindset and a commitment to righteousness, evidenced by one's actions. It also speaks to the emotional labor involved in effective spiritual leadership, where leaders can experience both grief and profound joy as they shepherd their flocks.
2 Corinthians 7 13 Commentary
Paul's relief and joy were profound upon witnessing the Corinthians' sincere repentance. Their earnestness, zeal, and readiness to address the spiritual issues demonstrated that his severe correction, though painful, had served its intended purpose – spiritual purification and restoration. Their willingness to defend themselves validated his pastoral efforts and underscored the reality of their transformed hearts, bringing Paul immense comfort and solidifying their relationship.