Verse 7. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love. In thy love towards Christians. The word here rendered joy (carin,) properly means grace, A large number of manuscripts, however, instead of this word, have caran, charan -- joy. See Wetstein. This reading has been adopted by Griesbach, Tittman, and Hahn.

Because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. For your kindness to them. The word bowels here probably means minds, hearts, for it is used in the Scriptures to denote the affections. The sense is, that the kindness which he had shown to Christians had done much to make them happy. On the word refreshed, see 2 Co 7:13; 2 Ti 1:16.

{d} "refreshed by thee" 2 Co 7:13; 2 Ti 1:16