Occasionally we read a text and wonder why in the world is this in the Bible?  2 Corinthians 7:2-16 is one.

Paul begins with a plea, effectively setting the tone for the whole text . . .

“Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy” (7:2-4).

The Greek simply says, “Make room for us” or “Welcome us.”  ” . . . in your hearts” is supplied by the translators.

Paul denies what the itinerant “super apostles” charge and the Corinthians accept.  But he is not condemning them, though he has reason to. They are in his heart in death or in life.  He boldly tells them how proud of them he is and how he overflows with joy for them.  Here’s why Paul rejoices . . .

“For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn–fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it–though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while” (7:5-8).

Paul had left Troas and crossed the Aegean, hoping to meet up with Titus, whom he had sent to Corinth.  Earlier, Paul himself had made a brief, unannounced visit.  It had gone badly.  The Corinthians’ relationship with him had hit a new low.  After a quick exit, he’d written a hard letter hoping they would repent.  Now he anxiously sought Titus’ report about the results of the letter.

It was encouraging.  The church had treated Titus well and looked forward to Paul’s return.  Paul admits he had regretted writing such a grievous letter, but no more, for the letter grieved the Corinthians too—and had its desired result.

More than Paul’s relationship with the church is at stake.  The gospel for the Corinthians is.  If they believe these visiting “super apostles”, they may be led astray from Christ.  Things remain tenuous.  He begs, “Make room for us” while rejoicing that at least they’ve turned the right direction.

“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.  For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter” (7:9-11, ESV).

“The New Living Translation” conveys well the sense of Paul’s words . . .

“Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right” (7:9-11).

What is “godly grief” (ESV).  It’s “the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have”, the kind that “produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret” (ESV).  Or, as the NLT has it, the kind of sorrow “God can use . . . to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.”

The Corinthians, misled by “super apostles”, had not only turned against Paul, they had turned from the way of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.  Paul’s letter had hurt them, because they realized what they had done.  And they repented.

Paul shows us that repentance is more than confessing sin, more even than grieving over sin.  It is also changing how one acts.  Godly grief produced in them an “eagerness to clear [themselves]” of wrong-doing.  It produced “indignation . . . fear . . . longing . . . punishment” for those who had misled them.  “You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right.”

“So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 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. For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you” (7:12-16).

Paul explains that he wrote the “grievous” letter so the Corinthians might realize how indebted to and how loyal their love for him really is.  And now Paul fairly gushes.  He’s comforted.  He rejoices at Titus’ joy.  He’s happy his boasting about the Corinthians to Titus proved true.  His affection for them has grown.  Did he mention he rejoices?  And he has “perfect confidence” in them.  The alienation with the apostle has been healed.  And the Corinthians are back on the gospel path.

So, why is 7:2-16 in the Bible?

Several reasons, I think.  First, because it tells us more of what the apostle had to endure so we might have the gospel.  Corinth was an especially problem church.  Yet, from it we see Paul’s loving, pastoral heart.  And from it, we have two letters full of rich gospel truths.

Second, this text is in the Bible, because it shows us that relationship problems and doctrinal controversies in the church have existed in the church from the start. That doesn’t make troubles in our church pleasant.  But it implies they are normal–and from them God works great good.

Third, so we might make room for Godly grief that produces repentance.  To say it another way, so we might welcome the Godly grief our sin evokes and welcome the apostolic word when it rebukes our sin and demands our repentance.

Here’s an example.  I read Hebrews 12:10b–“God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.”  I decide my illness is God’s discipline.  I want to believe it’s for my good, but I can’t make the connection between my PLS and sharing God’s holiness.  So I reject the whole idea and blame God for my suffering.  Then I read a blog that reminds me that God allows suffering, but he’s never the author of it.  At that point, I stand at a crossroads.  I can either delete the blog or meditate on it, letting its message sink in.

Soon I’m feeling sorry for rejecting Hebrews 12:10.  Another crossroads.  I can sweep away the sorrow or I can let it sink into my soul.  I choose the latter.  And that “grief” from God produces a mind- and heart-change.  I confess my sin of unbelief and choose to believe the word is true.

Godly grief produces repentance.  And both are good when we’re prone to make light of our sin and grieve the Spirit of our God.