Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians
"I do not regret it..."
Text: 2 Corinthians 7:8
FEELINGS OF REGRET
The word “regret” is tinged with “sorrow”. That was how Paul felt when he wrote sternly to address problems in the Corinthian church. To have feelings of regret or sorrow is human.
“For even if I made you sorry with my letter,
I do not regret it; though I did regret it.
For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry,
though only for a while.”
2 Corinthians 7:8
1. “For even if I made you sorry with my letter”
a) The word “sorry”
i) It is associated with the word “sorrow”.
ii) Sadness was felt by Paul when he had to write sternly.
iii) Sorrow was felt when the Corinthians realised their sin and error.
iv) Sorrow was compounded because of their relationship with Paul.
b) Letter
i) This could be 1 Corinthians.
ii) Or a lost letter.
iii) The word “letter” is literally “an epistle”.
2. “I do not regret it; though I did regret it.”
a) “I do not regret it”
i) This was after Titus came back with good news.
ii) Paul was glad that he wrote what he had to.
b) “Though I did regret it”
i) When he wrote it.
ii) When he was not sure how the Corinthians would respond.
iii) There was sorrow felt because Paul really loved the Corinthian Church.
3. “For I perceived that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while”
a) The report of Titus made a significant difference.
b) From that report he saw how the Corinthians responded.
i) They were sorrowful because they had erred.
ii) They were regretful that they had grieved Paul.
iii) Mercifully, this sorrow was only temporary but necessary.
Sin must always be repented of and forgiveness and restoration sought.