Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 7:10

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, [a repentance] which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." — 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ASV)

“My letter” refers to the so-called “severe letter,” one that is no longer extant but was written after 1 Corinthians and Paul’s “sorrowful visit” and was delivered by Titus (see comments in the introduction, sec. 5). From the report of Titus Paul had learned for the first time that his letter had caused the Corinthians considerable distress, at least for a period (v.8). As a spiritual father who disliked causing pain for whatever reason, his first reaction was to regret that he had written so stern a letter. But some later time, possibly after Paul had had time to reflect on the whole episode, his initial regret had disappeared when he realized that the temporary pain suffered by the Corinthians had produced sincere “repentance” (GK 3567). Of what had the Corinthians repented? Probably their failure to defend Paul before his detractor (cf. v.12). Thus Paul could now say that he did not regret the letter; it had caused no permanent harm. The inference is clear: the imposition of discipline or the suffering of pain that does not, under God, lead to repentance, can cause irreparable harm.

Verse 10 describes two ways of reacting to pain or sorrow. God’s way (“godly sorrow”) invariably produces a change of heart; this repentance “leads to salvation” and therefore gives no cause for regret. Sorrow borne in a worldly way, on the other hand, does not lead to repentance but has the deadly effect of producing resentment or bitterness. What makes suffering remedial is not the actual experience of it but one’s reaction to it.