Catholic Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Paul's Joy at the Report of Titus

Paul had been greatly comforted by the arrival of Titus with news from Corinth. When he came to Macedonia, his body had no rest: conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God who comforts the downcast comforted him by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but by the comfort Titus had received from the Corinthians. Their longing for Paul, their deep sorrow, their ardent concern for him had filled him with even more joy. Even if his severe letter had caused them sorrow, he does not regret sending it. It produced repentance, and he is glad not because they were made sorry but because their sorrow led them to repentance.

Godly and Worldly Sorrow

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. The distinction is one of the most pastorally important in Paul. Worldly sorrow is the sorrow of the person who is grieved at being caught, at losing face, at suffering consequences: it is focused on the self and its losses. Godly sorrow is focused on the harm done to God and to others, and it produces genuine change. The Catechism draws on this distinction in its treatment of contrition: perfect contrition, motivated by love of God and grief at having offended him, is distinct from imperfect contrition motivated by fear of punishment, and both can lead to sacramental reconciliation, but only the first transforms the heart at its root (CCC 1452).

The evidence of godly sorrow Paul sees in the Corinthians is complete: earnestness, eagerness to clear themselves, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, readiness to see justice done. In every way they have demonstrated their innocence in the matter. Titus had been refreshed in spirit by all of them. Paul has complete confidence in them. His joy in their response overflows in the joy of Titus, who has seen the obedience of the community and the welcome they gave him.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, when you have sinned, what kind of sorrow do you feel? The question is diagnostic. If the primary feeling is embarrassment at being known, or fear of consequences, that is worldly sorrow, which leads nowhere transformative. If the primary feeling is grief at the harm done to the relationship with God and with others, that is godly sorrow, which leads to repentance that leaves no regret. Take your sorrow to Confession and let it become the right kind.

Prayer

Lord God, produce in us godly sorrow when we sin, the sorrow that leads to repentance and leaves no regret. Deliver us from the worldly sorrow that is only about ourselves. And let the joy of restoration be as real as the sorrow of the fall. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

7
Paul’s Joy in the Corinthians
1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
 
2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you. 4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
 
5 For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, 7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
 
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. 9 And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
 
11 Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God. 13 On account of this, we are encouraged.
 
In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.

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