2 Corinthians 7:8 - For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
The word sorry is the word grieve. For though I grieved you with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent:
There are two words in the New Testament for the word repentance. One of them, and it's the word that is used here, except for at the end of the verse. This word is METAMELOMAI. It's the word used in Matthew 27:3 for Judas Iscariot. After he had betrayed Jesus, it said that he repented, which means to regret what he did. He regretted what he did, and he went out and hung himself. The other word for repentance is METANOEO and that is true repentance and surrender to Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:9 - 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.
He says, Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, or you were grieved, but that your grief led you to repentance:
That's the word for true repentance, METANOEO. It's not the word for regret, METAMELOMAI, but METANOEO, make a decision for change. Your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made to grieve after a godly manner. The term godly manner is literally according to God. God made you grieve, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
So, you won't experience loss. Paul was concerned that his words and his attitude might in a human sense grieve them in a bad way. But he says no, you were made to grieve according to God. Godly sorrow leads people to repentance. That's what he says in Verse 10.
2 Corinthians 10:4 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, and that's the word fleshy, natural inclination. And he's presenting the character of these weapons. It isn't human!
But he says, in contrast, they are mighty through God. The phrase "through God" is what is called an Instrumental Dative in the Greek. Instrument in God's hands. It's very mighty. It's very powerful, to the pulling down of strong holds;
The word strong hold means fortress or castle. And pulling down, that would be what you and I would imagine about a building being destroyed and pulled down to make room for a new one. Paul sees that Satan has a fortress and he likes to hold people captive. And Paul says our weapons are spiritual. They're not human. And they are for pulling down strong holds.
2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Imaginations means opinions and philosophies. It's the word reasoning in Greek. Casting down opinions and philosophies, and every high thing, the word for elevation. It's a metaphorical term for attitudes. It's an attitude. Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
2 Corinthians 10:8 - For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
The Lord has given us authority for edification which means to build up, to develop. It's the traditional Christian word for growth. Notice he says the Lord has given us this authority. He's always emphasizing that. It's not through people. It's through the Lord. The Lord has given us this authority for edification, and not for your destruction. God never gave us power to destroy people, but to build them up.
2 Corinthians 10:1 - Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
He says, Now I Paul myself, emphasizing his individuality. I Paul myself, beseech you. This word beseech means to appeal to someone. And he says by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. His appeal is based on the meekness and gentleness of Christ. In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus presented Himself as meek and lowly. And so, Paul is saying that this is not something that he is presenting out of his own effort, but this is actually the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
The word meekness means to be open or to be receptive. And the gentleness of Christ means to have a soft response to an attack. Paul is saying that I as an individual, I'm appealing to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. So, he's presenting himself as being under the influence of God's Spirit, to approach them from a conciliatory standpoint, rather than anger.
2 Corinthians 10:2 - But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
But I beseech you, and this word beseech is different than in Verse 1. This word is the word beg. So first we have an appeal, and then he says I beg you.
2 Corinthians 9:6 - But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully, and that's the word blessing. He who sows a blessing shall also reap a blessing.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Every man according as he purposes in his own heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, (that's the word grief), or of necessity: and that's the word pressure, for God loves a cheerful giver. The term "cheerful giver" in the Greek is the word that means hilarious. God loves a hilarious giver. And no, I've never seen one!
2 Corinthians 9:10 - Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and these are all Optative Moods in the Greek text. These are wishes, may he! May he minister bread for your food, may he multiply your seed sown, and may he increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Do you see the emphasis? The God who provides the seed, may He increase your food, may He increase the seeds that you plant, in the sowing and the scattering of the seed, and may He increase your fruits in righteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: That is not to be regretted. But the sorrow of the world works death.
Again, this is the word METANOEO which is associated with salvation. We use it incorrectly by saying that Christians need to repent. If you're a Christian, you've already repented. There is a confession. There is a forsaking. But repentance is associated with salvation. When you make the decision to change the direction of your life, and surrender your life to Christ, that's repentance. Repentance, METANOEO, always leads to salvation.
2 Corinthians 8:2 - How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Again, the word affliction is THLIPSIS for stress. This is city wide. This is things that they faced in receiving Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:4 - Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
The word "gift" in the verse is the word grace.
2 Corinthians 8:16 - But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
It is interesting that the word "thanks" in this verse is the word grace (CHARIS).
2 Corinthians 9:5 - Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
The word "bounty" is the word EULOGIA which means blessing. Do it now under grace as a blessing. Don't wait until the last minute and find people that say I said I would give but I don't have it now, because you're going to desire to go out and get from other people, and he says it shouldn't be that way.
2 Corinthians 7:8 - For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
The word sorry is the word grieve. For though I grieved you with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent:
There are two words in the New Testament for the word repentance. One of them, and it's the word that is used here, except for at the end of the verse. This word is METAMELOMAI. It's the word used in Matthew 27:3 for Judas Iscariot. After he had betrayed Jesus, it said that he repented, which means to regret what he did. He regretted what he did, and he went out and hung himself. The other word for repentance is METANOEO and that is true repentance and surrender to Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:9 - 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.
He says, Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, or you were grieved, but that your grief led you to repentance:
That's the word for true repentance, METANOEO. It's not the word for regret, METAMELOMAI, but METANOEO, make a decision for change. Your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made to grieve after a godly manner. The term godly manner is literally according to God. God made you grieve, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
So, you won't experience loss. Paul was concerned that his words and his attitude might in a human sense grieve them in a bad way. But he says no, you were made to grieve according to God. Godly sorrow leads people to repentance. That's what he says in Verse 10.
2 Corinthians 10:4 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, and that's the word fleshy, natural inclination. And he's presenting the character of these weapons. It isn't human!
But he says, in contrast, they are mighty through God. The phrase "through God" is what is called an Instrumental Dative in the Greek. Instrument in God's hands. It's very mighty. It's very powerful, to the pulling down of strong holds;
The word strong hold means fortress or castle. And pulling down, that would be what you and I would imagine about a building being destroyed and pulled down to make room for a new one. Paul sees that Satan has a fortress and he likes to hold people captive. And Paul says our weapons are spiritual. They're not human. And they are for pulling down strong holds.
2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Imaginations means opinions and philosophies. It's the word reasoning in Greek. Casting down opinions and philosophies, and every high thing, the word for elevation. It's a metaphorical term for attitudes. It's an attitude. Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
2 Corinthians 10:8 - For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
The Lord has given us authority for edification which means to build up, to develop. It's the traditional Christian word for growth. Notice he says the Lord has given us this authority. He's always emphasizing that. It's not through people. It's through the Lord. The Lord has given us this authority for edification, and not for your destruction. God never gave us power to destroy people, but to build them up.
2 Corinthians 10:1 - Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
He says, Now I Paul myself, emphasizing his individuality. I Paul myself, beseech you. This word beseech means to appeal to someone. And he says by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. His appeal is based on the meekness and gentleness of Christ. In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus presented Himself as meek and lowly. And so, Paul is saying that this is not something that he is presenting out of his own effort, but this is actually the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
The word meekness means to be open or to be receptive. And the gentleness of Christ means to have a soft response to an attack. Paul is saying that I as an individual, I'm appealing to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. So, he's presenting himself as being under the influence of God's Spirit, to approach them from a conciliatory standpoint, rather than anger.
2 Corinthians 10:2 - But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
But I beseech you, and this word beseech is different than in Verse 1. This word is the word beg. So first we have an appeal, and then he says I beg you.
2 Corinthians 9:6 - But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully, and that's the word blessing. He who sows a blessing shall also reap a blessing.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Every man according as he purposes in his own heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, (that's the word grief), or of necessity: and that's the word pressure, for God loves a cheerful giver. The term "cheerful giver" in the Greek is the word that means hilarious. God loves a hilarious giver. And no, I've never seen one!
2 Corinthians 9:10 - Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and these are all Optative Moods in the Greek text. These are wishes, may he! May he minister bread for your food, may he multiply your seed sown, and may he increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Do you see the emphasis? The God who provides the seed, may He increase your food, may He increase the seeds that you plant, in the sowing and the scattering of the seed, and may He increase your fruits in righteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: That is not to be regretted. But the sorrow of the world works death.
Again, this is the word METANOEO which is associated with salvation. We use it incorrectly by saying that Christians need to repent. If you're a Christian, you've already repented. There is a confession. There is a forsaking. But repentance is associated with salvation. When you make the decision to change the direction of your life, and surrender your life to Christ, that's repentance. Repentance, METANOEO, always leads to salvation.
2 Corinthians 8:2 - How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Again, the word affliction is THLIPSIS for stress. This is city wide. This is things that they faced in receiving Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:4 - Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
The word "gift" in the verse is the word grace.
2 Corinthians 8:16 - But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
It is interesting that the word "thanks" in this verse is the word grace (CHARIS).
2 Corinthians 9:5 - Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
The word "bounty" is the word EULOGIA which means blessing. Do it now under grace as a blessing. Don't wait until the last minute and find people that say I said I would give but I don't have it now, because you're going to desire to go out and get from other people, and he says it shouldn't be that way.
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