2 Corinthians 7:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By this the Apostle also expresses gratitude to Titus's benefactors. Although Titus had been separated from them, he imprinted them all in his soul. He always remembers them and continually has them on his lips and in his thoughts. At the same time, Paul praises the Corinthians still more, because they sent Titus away after binding him to themselves with such affection.

With these words he praises Titus, so that they too might love him as one bound to him and ardently loving them. Therefore he said "his heart," to show the strength and fervor of his affection and sincere love.

"Remembering the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling." He sets forth the causes of Titus' love for them. He shows that they themselves gave occasion for such love, and at the same time moves them to greater love.

For you showed him not simply love or care, but obedience. You received him as children receive a father, and at the same time as a superior, with fear and even trembling.

By this he bears witness to their twofold virtue: love, as toward a father, and fear, as toward a superior. Thus in them love did not weaken fear, nor did fear poison love.

Although Titus loved you before, his heart is now still more disposed toward you when he remembers the obedience of you all. For you received him honorably, with fear and trembling.

Paul says that the soul and love of Titus are in them, since Titus saw renewal in them. For the soul of a saint is present in everything good.

He also is greatly well disposed toward you and preserves an unforgettable remembrance of you. He tells how you submitted to his counsels and what honor you rendered him, revering him as a father and fearing him as a spiritual ruler.

I do not now regret even having grieved you by my epistle, though I had regretted it. For your sorrow was not worldly sorrow, which produces death, but sorrow for God's sake, which produces repentance unto salvation and is not to be regretted.

Still, I wrote the reproof to you "not for the sake of the offender," the incestuous man, "nor for the sake of the one offended," the father of the incestuous man, "but that our care for you before God might be made manifest to you" (2 Cor 7:8-12).

"And we rejoiced still more," the Apostle adds, "at the joy of Titus, because you all refreshed his spirit. I was not put to shame if I had boasted of you to him in anything. Therefore I rejoice that in everything I can rely on you" (2 Cor 7:13-16).

Expressing joy over the Corinthians' good reception of Titus, the Apostle speaks of the consolation given through this to Titus and to himself. He had not been mistaken in praising the Corinthians before him, and he had become assured that now he could rely on them in everything.

Thus the essence of the discourse comes down to praise of the Corinthians. They were wholly faithful to their teacher, whose truthfulness was confirmed among them, as Titus himself witnessed. For this reason Titus came to love the Corinthians.

Yet praise of those taught and established in the faith also includes praise of their guide. Therefore he is not without reason consoled, more than all, by the common consolation.

"And his inward affection is more abundant toward you." "This now pertains to the praise of Titus, that he is disposed and attached to them" (St. Chrysostom).

"He presents Titus to them in this way so that they also may love him in return, as one joined to them from the heart and warmly disposed toward them. Therefore he said, 'his inward affection is toward you,' to show the depth and fervor of his sincere love for them" (Theophylact).

"Then, as he does everywhere, he gives the cause of this affection, so as not to seem flattering. On the other hand, he also urges the Corinthians themselves to something greater, by giving the whole praise to them.