Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 7:11

"For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter." — 2 Corinthians 7:11 (ASV)

A splendid example of the beneficial outcome of “godly sorrow” was the positive response of the Corinthians to Paul’s letter that had for a time pained them. It could have compounded trouble at Corinth and caused widespread resentment against Paul, if it had not been received in a spirit of humility and with a willingness to follow God’s will. As it was, it produced in them seriousness of purpose, “eagerness” to clear themselves from blame, “indignation” at the scandalous action of the person who denigrated Paul, “alarm” over their behavior and its effects, “affection” for Paul, “concern” lest he should visit them with a rod (1 Corinthians 4:21: cf. 2 Corinthians 7:15; 13:2), and a “readiness to see justice done” by the punishment of the offender (cf. 2:6).

The second sentence in this verse probably means that by their favorable response to the “severe letter” the Corinthians had proved themselves “to be innocent.”