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The Acts of the Apostles
would be despised, he had sometimes regretted that he had written
so decidedly and severely. “Now I rejoice,” he continued, “not that
ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were
made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us
in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to
be repented of.” That repentance which is produced by the influence
of divine grace upon the heart will lead to confession and forsaking
of sin. Such were the fruits which the apostle declared had been seen
in the lives of the Corinthian believers. “What carefulness it wrought
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in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea,
what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal.”
For some time Paul had been carrying a burden of soul for the
churches—a burden so heavy that he could scarcely endure it. False
teachers had sought to destroy his influence among the believers and to
urge their own doctrines in the place of gospel truth. The perplexities
and discouragements with which Paul was surrounded are revealed in
the words, “We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch
that we despaired even of life.”
But now one cause of anxiety was removed. At the tidings of the
acceptance of his letter to the Corinthians, Paul broke forth into words
of rejoicing: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us
in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in
any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of
God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation
also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your
consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the
same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it
is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast,
knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also
of the consolation.”
In expressing his joy over their reconversion and their growth in
grace, Paul ascribed to God all the praise for this transformation of
heart and life. “Thanks be unto God,“ he exclaimed, “which always
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causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His
knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor
of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.” It was the
custom of the day for a general victorious in warfare to bring with him