Thomas Aquinas Commentary 2 Corinthians 7:12-16

"So although I wrote unto you, I [wrote] not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God. Therefore we have been comforted: And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you." — 2 Corinthians 7:12-16 (ASV)

Here the Apostle gives the reason why he rejoices over them; then he draws his conclusion, in which he does two things. First, he reveals the intention he had in writing; second, he reveals the joy he had over their correction (2 Corinthians 7:13).

Therefore, he says that because you are now undefiled, it is clear why I wrote to rebuke you in my letter. It was not only on account of the one who did the wrong by staining his father’s chamber with incest, as it says in 1 Corinthians 5, nor was it only for the one who suffered the wrong—that is, the father—as if motivated by a zeal for revenge. Instead, I did this so that our care for you might be revealed; that is, so you might know how careful we are for you.

And I say this in the sight of God, as an oath with God as witness: “For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you” (Colossians 2:1). Or, to put it another way: I have not written to you only for the sake of the one who did the wrong, so that he might be corrected, or for the one who suffered it, so that he might be appeased. Rather, it was so that our care for you might be revealed to you, who were indignant over the insult and the punishment inflicted on the fornicator, and that you would be reconciled to God.

Then he concludes with the joy he had at their correction when he says, “therefore we were comforted.” It is as if he is saying: because I achieved my goal in writing to you—namely, your correction—we were therefore comforted; that is, we took comfort. For a person is joyful when he obtains what he desired and intended: “But by the grace of God” (2 Corinthians 1:12).

Then, when he says, “and besides our own comfort,” he states the second reason for his comfort, which is drawn from the devotion they showed to Titus. In regard to this, he does three things.

1. He mentions the joy he felt at Titus’s joy.
2. He gives the reason for the joy (2 Corinthians 7:14).
3. He describes the matter over which Titus rejoiced (2 Corinthians 7:15).

He says, therefore, that they rejoiced at their correction. Beyond their own comfort, they rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, and this was because his spirit had been set at rest by all of them. For a leader’s spirit is refreshed when those under his care are obedient to him and respect him: “Refresh my heart in Christ” (Philemon 20). His spirit was set at rest, I say, by all of you, because everyone was either corrected or there was hope for their correction.

He gives the reason for this joy from two perspectives. One is from the perspective of the Apostle: namely, because he was proven to be truthful. For the Apostle had commended the Corinthians to Titus before he went to them. But now, because Titus found them to be exactly as the Apostle had described, the Apostle rejoiced that his words were true.

This is why he says that if he boasted to Titus about them, he was not put to shame; that is, “I do not blush as if I had said something false.” For when a person is found to be a liar, he is ashamed: “A man skilled in words may be hated” . But just as everything he said to them was true—that is, just as he preached the truth to them—so his boasting before Titus proved true.

The other reason is from the perspective of the Corinthians. For friends desire that those whom they love be loved by everyone. Therefore, because Titus loved the Corinthians for their devotion, the Apostle rejoices over this and says, “and his heart goes out all the more to you.”

It is as if Paul is saying: I not only rejoice because I was proven to be truthful, but also because his heart—that is, his affection and great love—goes out all the more to you than before, because he has seen your progress; or, more abundantly than toward others: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

He reveals that the reasons for his joy were their obedience and reverence. He notes their obedience when he says, “as he remembers the obedience of you all,” for Titus also praised them for this: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22); “Listen to me, your father, O children” .

He then mentions their reverence, noting when Paul speaks of the fear—that is, a respectful fear, not a slavish one—and trembling with which they received Titus: “For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me” (Galatians 4:15).

And because you acted that way toward him, Paul rejoiced, for he was proven to be truthful and Titus loves you. Therefore, he rejoices, saying, “I have perfect confidence in you,” not only in good will, but also in good works, trusting that you will act well in the future: “In your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things that belong to salvation” (Hebrews 6:9).