Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians has been a strained one. In fact, all of the letters that have preceded this one—the ones we have and the ones we don’t—have been critical of the quality of their walk with the Lord. If you recall from the introduction, this letter—or at least this part of it—is Paul’s response to the good news that he received from Titus that there had been a turnaround, of sorts.

Here, Paul asks the congregation to open its heart to him. He tells them that nothing he has said to them has been false, nor was it condemn them—nor has he taken advantage of or led astray any of them. He reminds them that he wrote these things out of his love and empathy for the sake of togetherness: “…for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.” He feels a deeply for them as any person can feel for another. He loves them so much that he is even “overjoyed in all [his] affliction.” He doesn’t bemoan his suffering for their sakes, yet they had begun to exact a heavy toll.

Paul was in Macedonia because Titus has failed to show-up whilst he was in Troas; the apostle became worried and decided to go on to Macedonia after preaching there. When he arrived in the province, Paul tells the Corinthians, he was both spiritually and physically “afflicted…[by] disputes without and fears within.” Since he makes a point of telling the Corinthians that “God…consoles the downcast,” one word comes to mind: discouragement. Remember this the next time you are beating yourself up because you feel discouraged. If Paul can be affected by it…

But because Paul is fulfilling the call of righteousness that God has placed upon him and because he clings to the fact that God has become like a father him—see the last episode and the discussion of 1 Samual 7—God send Titus to him with incredible news: that the Corinthians long for his return, are eager for it, and are saddened by his absence. 

Paul refers to the harsh letter that he had written to them. He realizes that it cause them pain, but he had come to the conclusion that their discomfort was necessary. Note in his parenthetical comment that initially he did regret sending the letter because it had caused them pain. It seems that somewhere along the way the Spirit must have provided him with reassurance—perhaps that since the letter was sent in love, sent out of his duty to gospel, it would result with the repentance that it did. 

Grief and “godly grief,” what’s the difference? Paul uses the Greek lype, referring to sense of hurt people feel when others act in a harsh or wrong manner towards them. It can be experienced by groups of people or by individuals. As we learn here, not all lype is bad. The apostle says in verses 10:

Our consciences may cause us some trouble—maybe even some sleepless nights—for a time, but we will find transformation and freedom from our sinful pride in the end: “repentance that leads to salvation”. Paul goes on in verse eleven to explain how we can recognize this godly grief. 

Godly grief has these qualities: earnestness, eagerness, indignation, alarm, longing, and zeal. Notice, the Corinthians do not blame anyone or attempt to justify their previous behavior, and they seem to be unable to rest until they make amends with Paul and within themselves. Their hurt changed them, and they accepted responsibility for its cause. 

This is why Paul wrote his lype letter: to spark the overwhelming desire to amend their relationship with Paul and be transformed in a way that testifies to others. 

Paul now has peace in his heart concerning the Corinthians. He says here that he is not only happy that his relationship with the church has been mended but that, even more so, Titus has now found peace in his heart about them and has found that his love for them has become greater and stronger when he remembers how they listened to him and repented. Paul has been boasting about the congregation and glad that they didn’t prove an embarrassment to him. I guess his earlier fretting was in vain.