2Cor 1:4, 7:6-7, 9, 13 | JFB | STEP | 4. us —idiomatic for me ( ). that we may . . . comfort them which are in any trouble —Translate, as the Greek is the same as before, "tribulation." The apostle lived, not to himself, but to the Church; so, whatever graces God conferred on him, he considered granted not for himself alone, but that he might have the greater ability to help others [CALVIN ]. So participation in all the afflictions of man peculiarly qualified Jesus to be man's comforter in all his various afflictions ( ).

2 Corinthians 1:4

4. us—idiomatic for me (1Th 2:18).

that we may . . . comfort them which are in any trouble—Translate, as the Greek is the same as before, "tribulation." The apostle lived, not to himself, but to the Church; so, whatever graces God conferred on him, he considered granted not for himself alone, but that he might have the greater ability to help others [CALVIN]. So participation in all the afflictions of man peculiarly qualified Jesus to be man's comforter in all his various afflictions (Isa 50:4-6; Heb 4:15).

2 Corinthians 7:6-7

6. Translate in the order required by the Greek, "But he that comforteth those that are cast down, even God." Those that are of an high spirit are not susceptible of such comfort.

7. when he told us—Greek, "telling us." We shared in the comfort which Titus felt in recording your desire (2Co 7:13). He rejoiced in telling the news; we in hearing them [ALFORD].

earnest desire—Greek, "longing desire," namely, to see me [GROTIUS]; or, in general, towards me, to please me.

mourning—over your own remissness in not having immediately punished the sin (1Co 5:1, &c.) which called forth my rebuke.

fervent mind—Greek, "zeal" (compare 2Co 7:11; Joh 2:17).

toward me—Greek, "for me"; for my sake. They in Paul's behalf showed the zeal against the sin which Paul would have shown had he been present.

rejoiced the more—more than before, at the mere coming of Titus.

2 Corinthians 7:9

9. Now I rejoice—Whereas "I did repent" or regret having made you sorry by my letter, I rejoice NOW, not that ye were caused sorrow, but that your sorrow resulted in your repentance.

ye sorrowed—rather, as before, "ye were made sorry."

after a godly manner—literally, "according to God," that is, your sorrow having regard to God, and rendering your mind conformable to God (Ro 14:22; 1Pe 4:6).

that—Translate in Greek order, "to the end that (compare 2Co 11:9) ye might in nothing receive damage from us," which ye would have received, had your sorrow been other than that "after a godly manner" (2Co 7:10).

2 Corinthians 7:13

13. The oldest manuscripts read thus, "Therefore (Greek, 'for this cause,' namely, because our aim has been attained) we have been (English Version, 'were,' is not so accurate) comforted; yea (Greek, 'but'), in OUR comfort we exceedingly the more joyed for the joy of Titus," &c. (compare 2Co 7:7).