2 Corinthians 7:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

How was this “on every side”? “Outside were attacks,” from unbelievers. “Within were fears,” for those weak in faith, lest they be carried away into error. For this happened not only among the Corinthians, but also among others.

“For when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest.” He recounts his sorrow and speaks of it in strong terms, in order to show how great was the joy from them, since it drove away even such sorrow.

He rightly said that the flesh had no rest, for Paul’s soul was invincible. “But we were troubled on every side: outside were attacks.” These attacks came from unbelievers. “Within were fears,” because among the faithful there are weak ones who could be carried away by false brethren.

For even when we endured, and still endure, every suffering in Macedonia, our flesh had no rest. The Syriac has “body.” Amid every affliction we are like you, and more than you.

Outside were conflicts, and within were fears for friends, lest someone be scandalized.

In this lies the first power of courage, since there are two kinds of courage. The first is to count external and bodily things as nothing, despising them as unnecessary.

The second is to strive persistently, with all the powers of the soul, and to attain the most important thing, in which dignity and what is fitting, prepon, appear. Compare Cicero, De officiis 1.66.

What could be more beautiful than to dispose one’s spirit so as to disdain wealth, pleasures, and honors, and not spend all one’s efforts on them?

When you have so formed your spirit, you must understand that what is worthy and fitting is most important, and turn your mind toward it.

The Apostle recalls the oppressions and beatings that the brethren endured for the faithful, so as to move their hearts still more to tenderness.

“Our flesh had no rest.” He says this to awaken sympathy in the Corinthians, who had been convinced that the apostles surrender their own souls for the salvation of the faithful and go to death.

Before the apostle describes bodily torment and injustice, there was also something else that deprived the sufferers of rest. In a broad sense everything is flesh. Therefore the apostle points to the complete absence of rest for the flesh.

The soul itself also suffered in the body, though at times it had rest. From this understanding Paul hopes for repose by God’s mercy in place of torments for those who suffer attacks from unbelievers for the faith.

The struggle with opponents not only oppressed us, but care for the weak also exhausted us, because I feared their change for the worse.

“Our flesh” means the outer man, who is disturbed at the sight of dangers threatening the preacher of the Gospel.

Returning to his interrupted account of the reasons that delayed his arrival in Corinth, the Apostle expresses the joy and consolation brought to him by the return of Titus. He also speaks of all that Titus saw and encountered in Corinth (2 Cor 7:2-16).

First he notes, though not in condemnation of the Corinthians, that he had wronged no one among them, harmed no one, and sought gain from no one. Contrary to all the slanders brought against him, he holds them all in his heart and boasts much of them.

Saint Paul continues: “I now overflow with joy,” that is, after the arrival of Titus, “although when we came into Macedonia from Troas, our flesh had no rest. Outside were attacks, within were fears” (2 Cor 7:2-7).

The Apostle had begun above, in chapter 2, to speak about his sufferings. “But as soon as he began, he was taken by the Spirit to the contemplation of the power and glory of the new covenant.”

Now he returns to the interrupted account. He speaks of how, in his great sorrow in Macedonia, he was gladdened by the arrival of Titus. Above all, he was gladdened by his good tidings about the Corinthians and the beneficial effect of his first epistle upon them.

Saint John Chrysostom says: “‘Outside were conflicts,’ that is, from unbelievers. ‘Inside were fears,’ that is, for the weak in faith, lest they be carried away into errors. This happened not only among the Corinthians, but also among others.

“Having mentioned sorrow above, he tells what kind of sorrow it was. He presents it in a greater form, wishing to show how great were the consolation and joy they brought, since these dispelled even such grief” (Saint Chrysostom).

“For when we had come.” From the Greek: “For even when we had come.” Through “for,” the discourse is linked with what immediately precedes. Through “even,” it is linked with what was said in 2 Cor 2:12-13.

There he said: “In Troas I had no rest in my spirit.” Here he says: “But even when I came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest.”

There it is spirit; here it is flesh. One should not think these words are used with some special meaning. They are descriptive additions to the person speaking. Both there and here the sense is: I had no rest.