11 For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God. 13 Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus because all of you have refreshed his spirit. 14 For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well. 15 And his affection for you is much greater when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

Whether an apology achieves its purpose in repairing the relationship depends on what it reveals of the speaker’s heart. “I said I was sorry, what more do you want from me?” won’t be effective. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done, how can I make it up to you?” is much better, because it’s clear that the person is truly sorry and eager to change, to make amends for their wrongdoing.

The letter of 2 Corinthians reflects Paul’s rocky relationship with the church in Corinth. Like a parent, Paul has had to discipline the church, and they did not always welcome it. In fact, Paul’s last visit had been so painful that he chose to send Titus with a further letter, to rebuke the Corinthians and to urge them to punish a wrongdoer in their midst (2:1-4). Would the church accept Paul’s correction, and act against the wrongdoer who had been undermining Paul’s authority among them?

Thankfully, Titus was able to report that the Corinthians responded to Paul’s rebuke with ‘sadness as God intended’ (v11). The church expressed its genuine repentance in its eagerness to address the wrong, their indignation at the wrongdoer, and their longing to restore their relationship with Paul.

God had worked powerfully by his Spirit to soften the hard hearts of his people, to the joy and encouragement of his servant Paul (v16). Paul’s bold speech had produced in the church a godly sorrow for its sin, expressed in their obedience to his authority. By obeying Paul’s authority as an apostle, they were obeying Christ’s authority.

What is our posture when we receive a rebuke from a brother or sister in Christ? Do you tend to offer a token apology which lacks any real desire to change and to repair broken relationships? That may be a sign of a hard heart. Let’s commit instead to showing the same godly sorrow and genuine repentance as the Corinthians showed, with a real desire to make amends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is our Women and children’s minister.