3rd Missionary Trip - Lorin

arguments against such partition theories is the complete absence in any manuscript copies known to exist
suggesting a partitioning of various segments of the letter into multiple documents. In this conclusion, chapters
ten through thirteen of Second Corinthians cannot then be this so-called ‘sorrowful letter’ that Paul mentions in
these two passages. And neither can it be First Corinthians. The scope and focus of Paul’s references to this
letter in Second Corinthians chapters two and seven do not easily fit the broad, widely inclusive scope of First
Corinthians. Plus in 2:1-2 it becomes clear that this letter came out of the painful visit well after First Corinthians
was written. Therefore we are looking at references to a third letter of the four that Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
Just as with the lost ‘prior letter,’ we do not know much about the contents of this letter. From the signals
in these two above references in Second Corinthians, it seems to have been along the same theme of strong
condemnation of immoral behavior by the Corinthian church members, as was the case with the prior letter and
First Corinthians. The major difference, however, is that this letter seems to have ‘gotten through’ to the Corinthians
and actually brought them to repentance (cf. 2 Cor 7:8). How deep and how extensive was this repentance
is called into question by two simple words of Paul in v. 8: πρὸς ὥραν, briefly. Although the grammar here is
unusually complex, what Paul asserts is that their sorrow either prompted repentance which turned into joy with
divine forgiveness, or else that their grief lasted only momentarily and perhaps was not truly genuine. Which
idea Paul intended is not entirely clear, although the former is more likely. 187 In either case, Titus had reported
sufficient repentance on the part of the church to cause Paul to rejoice (v. 9a): νῦν χαίρω, οὐχ ὅτι ἐλυπήθητε ἀλλʼ
ὅτι ἐλυπήθητε εἰς μετάνοιαν, Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance.
Some real spiritual insights emerge here. Pastors, if they do their job properly, must come down hard
on the sinful conduct of their members. But real spiritual wisdom must be employed in doing this. For the old
time ‘fire and brimstone’ kind of pastor, much of their ranting against sin was a venting of their own frustrations,
either over what disgusted them, what they secretly wanted to do themselves but didn’t dare try because of
their position, or what they themselves were actually doing in secret with their bully pulpit as a cover-up. 188 The
apostle Paul recognized the risk involved in harsh condemnation of sin, not to him, but for the spiritual health
of the Corinthians (v. 9b): ἐλυπήθητε γὰρ κατὰ θεόν, ἵνα ἐν μηδενὶ ζημιωθῆτε ἐξ ἡμῶν, for you felt a godly grief, so
that you were not harmed in any way by us. Repentance is very easy to fake, especially when an esteemed spiritual
leader comes down harshly on the believer’s sinful behavior. From Titus’ report, Paul was convinced that the
repentance of the Corinthians was ‘godly grief’ and not ‘worldly grief’ (v. 10): ἡ γὰρ κατὰ θεὸν λύπη μετάνοιαν εἰς
σωτηρίαν ἀμεταμέλητον ἐργάζεται· ἡ δὲ τοῦ κόσμου λύπη θάνατον κατεργάζεται, For godly grief produces a repentance
that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. The Corinthians had given outward
signals of genuine repentance as Titus reported to Paul. And in this the apostle was overjoyed (vv. 11-13):
11 ἰδοὺ γὰρ αὐτὸ τοῦτο τὸ κατὰ θεὸν λυπηθῆναι πόσην κατειργάσατο ὑμῖν σπουδήν, ἀλλʼ ἀπολογίαν, ἀλλʼ
ἀγανάκτησιν, ἀλλὰ φόβον, ἀλλʼ ἐπιπόθησιν, ἀλλὰ ζῆλον, ἀλλʼ ἐκδίκησιν. ἐν παντὶ συνεστήσατε ἑαυτοὺς ἁγνοὺς εἶναι
τῷ πράγματι. 12 ἄρα εἰ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, οὐχ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος ἀλλʼ ἕνεκεν τοῦ
φανερωθῆναι τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ. 13 διὰ τοῦτο παρακεκλήμεθα.
11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what
indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless
in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account
of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God. 13 In this
we find comfort.
For a sinful church member to come to genuine repentance, he or she must honsestly face up to their waywardness.
And the role of the pastor in facilitating this is significant. But the outcome must be ‘godly grief’ (ἡ κατὰ θεὸν
λύπη) that leads to repentance. The alternative, ‘worldly grief’ (ἡ τοῦ κόσμου λύπη), produces spiritual disaster.
The signals of the real thing will surface outwardly in the manner that Paul describes in v. 11.
6. 2 Corinthians
Essential point: written from Macedonia after leaving Ephesus on third missionary journey; prompted by
187 “The pain will not last; there is nothing that need rankle; the present letter will entirely extinguish it. Gal. 2:5 and Philem. 15
show that the expression may be used of either a short or a long time, either a few minutes or several months. The main point is that an
end is certain. Cf. πρὸς καιρόν (1 Cor. 7:5; Lk. 8:13), πρὸς ὀλίγον (1 Tim. 4:8), and πρὸς καιρὸν ὤρας (1 Thess. 2:17). It is possible that
εἰ καὶ πρὸς ὥραν ἐλύπησεν ὑμᾶς should be taken together, ‘although it pained you for a season,’ and that the sentence is left unfinished.
Perhaps some such words as ‘has had excellent effects’ ought to have followed. However we unravel the confused constr., the general
sense is clear.” [Alfred Plummer, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians., International
Critical Commentary (New York: T&T Clark, 1915), 220.]
188Hollywood in its bitter satire popularized this image with films like Elmer Gantry etc.
Page 446