2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (WEL) For when we had come to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest. We were troubled on every side—outwardly confrontations, inwardly fears. 6 Nevertheless, God, who comforts those who are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 7 Not only by his coming, but by the comfort in which he was comforted by you, when he told us your earnest desire, your sorrow, your fervent mind toward me so that I really rejoiced.
V5 For when we had come to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest. We were troubled on every side—outwardly confrontations, inwardly fears.
Paul is sharing personal information concerning some of the fears and worries he had. Paul had written elsewhere to not worry (Philippians 4:6). Even though it is God’s standard/law to not worry, no human can totally shut it down. Yet, I have met some people who claim they never worry.
The Greek word for flesh is G4561 σάρξ sárx, which means, in this context, (Word Study Dictionary) “Used for that which is merely external or only apparent, in opposition to what is spiritual and real (John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.”
Pett comments:
“‘Our flesh had no relief.’ In 2Co 2:13 it was his spirit that had no relief. The thought here may therefore be to emphasise outward further physical afflictions which came on top of the inward ones of the spirit. The contrast of the ‘without’ with the ‘within’. We are not told what their nature was. But it brought on him the sense of being afflicted on every side. ‘Without were fightings, within were fears.’ For wherever Paul went false teaching was penetrating the churches, strong-minded men in the churches had their own ideas, and there were unbelievers who would attack him because his presence was a reminder of all that this new, outwardly mobile religion had meant in disturbing the old ways. And he bore ‘the care of all the churches’, which no doubt had as many difficult members in them then as we have today, and themselves often faced difficulties from outside.”
V6 Nevertheless, God, who comforts those who are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.
Who comforts? God. We should always turn first to God before seeking comfort from anyone else. We turn to God by prayer and even searching the Bible for topics related to our discomfort.
Cast down = depressed.
God helps directly by calming our spirits but also sends the appropriate believer, sometime and somewhere, to help us.
Christians, we need each other.
Church fellowship is essential.
V7 Not only by his coming, but by the comfort in which he was comforted by you, when he told us your earnest desire, your sorrow, your fervent mind toward me so that I really rejoiced.
You Corinthians comforted Titus who in turn comforted me.
The report Titus gave included:
- Their earnest desire to do what is right in God’s eyes.
- The Corinthian believers’ sorrow from the incestuous sin
- Their fervency to do what is right.
- Their appreciation of Paul.
Doing so brought rejoicing to Paul.
We learn:
- We need comfort from God and others, especially believers.
- We need to do what is right in God’s eyes, which brings a blessing on the whole assembly.
Questions:
- Do you seek God first when troubled?
- How do you help others?