2 Corinthians 7:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

NIV: I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

NASB: I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.

CSB: I rejoice that I have complete confidence in you.

NLT: I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

KJV: I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

NKJV: Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

This verse wraps up Paul's praise for the Corinthians' sorrowful and repentant response to his letter of rebuke. He has just described how impressed Titus was with their obedience and attitude of humility when he was with them. Paul now declares bluntly that he has complete confidence in them. This fact causes him to rejoice.

The Corinthians' response to being rebuked for their response to a troublemaker is a model for all believers about how to turn from sin when we recognize it. Deep sadness is an appropriate starting place. Our sin comes with often devastating consequences, including the breaking of relationships with people we care about. That sadness led the Corinthians to repent, to turn away from the sin by quickly and eagerly making things right. They began to obey instead of to disobey. They did so with a sense of humility and fearful respect for their powerful God.

Paul, too, serves as a model for believers. He shows the need to sometimes engage in difficult and awkward confrontation with someone we care about over their sin. He also shows how to respond with praise, rejoicing, and renewed confidence when that person repents.

Second Corinthians 7:2–16 begins with Paul urging the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers for the gospel. He then describes the great affliction they were under until Titus returned from a visit to Corinth. Titus' report that the Corinthians had responded to a severe rebuke from Paul with sadness and repentance brought Paul great comfort and caused him to rejoice. Titus, too, expressed affection for the Corinthians after seeing their obedience and humility. Paul concludes by declaring his complete confidence in the Corinthians, though he will discuss other difficult issues in the following chapters.

Verse 1 concludes the previous chapter's declaration that believers, as God's holy people, must cleanse their lives of defilement. Next, Paul urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers. He expresses his great comfort and joy over Titus' report that they received a letter of rebuke from him with sorrow and repentance, eager to make things right. He is glad to hear that Titus was impressed with their obedience and humble attitude. This hasn't resolved all the issues between Paul and the Corinthians, but he expresses his complete confidence in them.

Second Corinthians 7 begins with a single verse concluding Paul's teaching about what it means for Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. He then urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his fellow ministers. He expresses enormous comfort at hearing that they have received a letter of rebuke from him with an eagerness to make things right with him. Titus, too, is impressed with their obedience and humility. Paul declares that he now has complete confidence in them. Following chapters will continue to address spiritual problems within that church.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.