2 Corinthians 7:15
And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
And his affection for you
The word "affection" in Greek is "σπλάγχνα" (splanchna), which literally refers to the inward parts or bowels, considered the seat of emotions in ancient times. This term conveys a deep, visceral love and compassion. In the context of 2 Corinthians, it reflects Titus's profound emotional connection to the Corinthian believers. This affection is not superficial but deeply rooted in the shared experiences and spiritual growth witnessed among the Corinthians.

is even greater
The phrase "even greater" emphasizes the increase or intensification of Titus's affection. The Greek word used here, "περισσοτέρως" (perissoteros), suggests an abundance or overflow. This indicates that Titus's love for the Corinthians has grown significantly, likely due to their positive response to Paul's previous letter and their evident repentance and obedience.

when he remembers
The act of remembering, "ἀναμιμνῄσκω" (anamimnesko), involves recalling past events with clarity and significance. This remembrance is not merely a mental exercise but a heartfelt reflection on the Corinthians' actions. It suggests that the memory of their behavior has left a lasting impression on Titus, reinforcing his affection for them.

that you were all obedient
Obedience, "ὑπακοή" (hypakoe), in this context, refers to the Corinthians' compliance with Paul's instructions and their alignment with the teachings of the Gospel. This obedience is a testament to their spiritual maturity and willingness to submit to apostolic authority, which is highly valued in the early Christian community.

as you welcomed him
The act of welcoming, "δέχομαι" (dechomai), implies more than just receiving someone physically; it involves acceptance and hospitality. The Corinthians' reception of Titus was marked by warmth and openness, reflecting their respect and love for him as a representative of Paul and the Gospel.

with fear and trembling
This phrase, "μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου" (meta phobou kai tromou), is a common biblical expression denoting reverence and humility. It suggests a deep respect for the authority and message that Titus brought. The Corinthians' attitude was not one of casual indifference but of serious consideration and earnestness in their faith journey. This reverence underscores their recognition of the gravity of the Gospel message and their commitment to living it out.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
- The apostle who wrote the letter to the Corinthians, addressing issues within the church and offering guidance and encouragement.

2. Titus
- A fellow worker and companion of Paul, who was sent to Corinth to observe and report back on the church's response to Paul's previous letter.

3. Corinthian Church
- The recipients of the letter, a Christian community in Corinth dealing with internal challenges and moral issues.

4. Corinth
- A major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and moral decadence, where Paul established a church during his missionary journeys.

5. Paul's Previous Letter
- Refers to the earlier correspondence from Paul to the Corinthians, addressing issues and calling for repentance.
Teaching Points
Obedience and Reverence
The Corinthians' obedience and their reception of Titus with "fear and trembling" demonstrate the importance of respecting and honoring those who bring God's message. This reverence is not out of fear of man, but out of respect for God's work through His servants.

The Power of Repentance
The Corinthians' change of heart and actions after receiving Paul's previous letter show the transformative power of repentance. True repentance leads to a renewed relationship with God and His messengers.

Encouragement in Ministry
Titus's increased affection for the Corinthians serves as a reminder of the joy and encouragement that comes from witnessing genuine spiritual growth in others. This should motivate us to invest in others' spiritual journeys.

Community and Accountability
The relationship between Paul, Titus, and the Corinthians highlights the importance of community and accountability in the Christian faith. We are called to support and hold each other accountable in our walk with Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the Corinthians' response to Titus reflect their spiritual maturity and understanding of Paul's teachings?

2. In what ways can we show "fear and trembling" in our own reception of God's word and His messengers today?

3. How does the concept of obedience in this passage relate to other areas of our Christian life, such as prayer and worship?

4. What role does repentance play in strengthening our relationships within the church community?

5. How can we encourage and support those who are laboring in ministry, similar to how the Corinthians encouraged Titus?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Philippians 2:12
- This verse also speaks of working out salvation with "fear and trembling," emphasizing the seriousness and reverence in the Christian walk.

1 Corinthians 16:10-11
- Paul instructs the Corinthians to receive Timothy with respect, similar to how they welcomed Titus, highlighting the importance of honoring those who labor in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:4
- Paul expresses his deep concern and love for the Corinthians, which is mirrored in Titus's affection for them.
Marks of True PenitenceE. Hurndall 2 Corinthians 7:8-15
True Repentance and its Effects; Ministry of TitusC. Lipscomb 2 Corinthians 7:8-16
Church DisciplineD. Thomas D. D.2 Corinthians 7:12-16
People
Corinthians, Paul, Titus
Places
Achaia, Corinth, Macedonia
Topics
Abounds, Abundant, Abundantly, Affection, Affections, Anxiety, Authority, Calling, Drawn, Fear, Goes, Greater, Heart, Hearts, Honour, Increased, Inward, Love, Manifested, Memory, Mind, Nervous, Obedience, Obedient, Recalls, Receive, Received, Receiving, Remembereth, Remembering, Remembers, Strong, Tender, Timidity, Towards, Trembling, Welcomed, Whilst
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Corinthians 7:15

     8754   fear

2 Corinthians 7:13-15

     5781   affection

Library
Hope and Holiness
Having therefore these promises . . . let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 COR. vii. 1. It is often made a charge against professing Christians that their religion has very little to do with common morality. The taunt has sharpened multitudes of gibes and been echoed in all sorts of tones: it is very often too true and perfectly just, but if ever it is, let it be distinctly understood that it is not so because of Christian
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Sorrow According to God
'Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.'--2 COR. vii. 10. Very near the close of his missionary career the Apostle Paul summed up his preaching as being all directed to enforcing two points, 'Repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.' These two, repentance and faith, ought never to be separated in thought, as they are inseparable in fact. True repentance is impossible without faith, true faith cannot exist
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 Cor. vii. 1. That holiness is more than cleansing, and must be preceded by it, is taught us in more than one passage of the New Testament. 'Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.' 'If a man cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Power of Sorrow.
Preached June 30, 1850. THE POWER OF SORROW. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."--2 Corinthians vii. 9, 10. That which is chiefly insisted on in this verse, is the distinction between sorrow and repentance. To grieve over sin is one thing, to repent
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

Sanctification is a Mystery.
"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of. God." --2 Cor. vii. 1. Sanctification belongs to the mysteries of faith; hence it can not be confessed but as a dogma. By this statement we intend to cut off at once every representation which makes "sanctification" to consist of the human effort to make oneself holy or holier. To become more holy is undoubtedly the duty which rests upon every man. God has condemned all unholiness, as an accursed
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Implanted Dispositions.
"Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord."--2 Cor. vii. 1. To deny that the Holy Spirit creates new dispositions in the will is equivalent to a return to Romish error; even tho Rome argues the matter in a different way. Rome denies the total corruption of the will by sin; that its disposition is wholly evil. Hence, the will of the sinner not being wholly useless, it follows: (1) that the regenerate does not need the implanting of a new disposition; (2) that in this respect there is no difference
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Brief Memoir of Thomas Watson
Compiled by C. H. Spurgeon Thomas Watson's Body of Practical Divinity is one of the most precious of the peerless works of the Puritans; and those best acquainted with it prize it most. Watson was one of the most concise, racy, illustrative, and suggestive of those eminent divines who made the Puritan age the Augustan period of evangelical literature. There is a happy union of sound doctrine, heart-searching experience and practical wisdom throughout all his works, and his Body of Divinity is, beyond
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Letter xxiv (Circa A. D. 1126) to Oger, Regular Canon
To Oger, Regular Canon [34] Bernard blames him for his resignation of his pastoral charge, although made from the love of a calm and pious life. None the less, he instructs him how, after becoming a private person, he ought to live in community. To Brother Oger, the Canon, Brother Bernard, monk but sinner, wishes that he may walk worthily of God even to the end, and embraces him with the fullest affection. 1. If I seem to have been too slow in replying to your letter, ascribe it to my not having
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Nineteenth Day. Holiness and Resurrection.
The Son of God, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead.'--Rom. i. 4. These words speak of a twofold birth of Christ. According to the flesh, He was born of the seed of David. According to the Spirit, He was the first begotten from the dead. As He was a Son of David in virtue of His birth through the flesh, so He was declared to be the Son of God with power,
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

A Glorious vision.
THE Epistle to the Hebrews, this profound and blessed portion of the Holy Scriptures, unfolds a most wonderful vision of the Person, the Glory and the great Redemption work of our adorable Lord. The portion of the Epistle which is the richest in this respect is the Second Chapter. Here is a vista for the eyes of faith which is sublime. Our Lord in His Person, in His humiliation and exaltation, in His suffering and glory, stands out in a way which makes the believing heart rejoice with joy unspeakable
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Sanctification.
In the last chapter we showed that the doctrine of justification deals with the sinner's change of relation, or change of state. We also learned that faith is the instrumental or applying cause of justification. In another place we showed that true faith presupposes penitence, and this again presupposes a sense and knowledge of sin. Again we showed that penitence and faith are the two essential elements of conversion; that where these elements are found there is a change of heart, and the beginning
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

"My Little Children, These Things Write I unto You, that Ye Sin Not. And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,"
1 John ii. 1.--"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father," &c. The gospel is an entire uniform piece, all the parts of it are interwoven through other, and interchangeably knit together, so that there can be no dividing of it any more than of Christ's coat that was without seam. If you have it not altogether by the divine lot, you cannot truly have any part of it, for they are so knit together, that if you disjoin
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Blessed are they that Mourn
Blessed are they that mourn. Matthew 5:4 Here are eight steps leading to true blessedness. They may be compared to Jacob's Ladder, the top whereof reached to heaven. We have already gone over one step, and now let us proceed to the second: Blessed are they that mourn'. We must go through the valley of tears to paradise. Mourning were a sad and unpleasant subject to treat on, were it not that it has blessedness going before, and comfort coming after. Mourning is put here for repentance. It implies
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Work of God in Our Work.
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."--1 Thess. v. 23. The difference between sanctification and good works should be well understood. Many confound the two, and believe that sanctification means to lead an honorable and virtuous life; and, since this is equal to good works, sanctification, without which no man shall see God, is made to consist in the earnest and diligent
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'. Where observe: 1 Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescribed him, licks the sugar but throws away the pill. The libertine is all for joy and comfort. He licks the sugar but throws away the bitter pill of repentance. If
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to Growing in Grace.
I come now to speak a little to the other part of sanctification, which concerneth the change of our nature and frame, and is called vivification, or quickening of the new man of grace; which is called the new man, as having all its several members and parts, as well as the old man; and called new, because posterior to the other; and after regeneration is upon the growing hand, this duty of growing in grace, as it is called, 2 Pet. iii. &c. is variously expressed and held forth to us in Scripture;
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Its Effects.
Among the effects and benefits which in this life accompany and flow from being filled with the Holy Ghost, may be mentioned the following:-- 1. Courage. "Oh, I could not do so and so--I have not the courage," is a reply frequently made by Christian people when asked to undertake some piece of service or other for the Master. The first point to be settled is, "Is that the Master's will for me?" If so, lack of courage is a confession to the lack of the "Fullness of the Holy Ghost." The Spirit-filled
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Getting Ready to Enter Canaan
GETTING READY TO ENTER CANAAN Can you tell me, please, the first step to take in obtaining the experience of entire sanctification? I have heard much about it, have heard many sermons on it, too; but the way to proceed is not yet plain to me, not so plain as I wish it were. Can't you tell me the first step, the second, third, and all the rest? My heart feels a hunger that seems unappeased, I have a longing that is unsatisfied; surely it is a deeper work I need! And so I plead, "Tell me the way."
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Sanctification.
I. I will remind you of some points that have been settled in this course of study. 1. The true intent and meaning of the law of God has been, as I trust, ascertained in the lectures on moral government. Let this point if need be, be examined by reference to those lectures. 2. We have also seen, in those lectures, what is not, and what is implied in entire obedience to the moral law. 3. In those lectures, and also in the lectures on justification and repentance, it has been shown that nothing is
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Christian's Peace and the Christian's Consistency
PHILIPPIANS i. 21-30 He will be spared to them--Spiritual wealth of the paragraph--Adolphe Monod's exposition--Charles Simeon's testimony--The equilibrium and its secret--The intermediate bliss--He longs for their full consistency--The "gift" of suffering Ver. 21. +For to me, to live is Christ+; the consciousness and experiences of living, in the body, are so full of Christ, my supreme Interest, that CHRIST sums them all up; +and to die+, the act of dying,[1] +is gain+, for it will usher me in
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

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