2 Corinthians 7:4-16 - A Letter That Caused Sadness

⁴ I am very bold over you, and rejoice greatly in you. I am filled with comfort and am joyous in all our tribulations.

⁵ For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: Outward was fighting, inward was fear. ⁶ Nevertheless God, that comforteth the abject, comforted us at the coming of Titus. ⁷ And not with his coming only: but also with the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you. For he told us your desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to me ward: So that I now rejoice the more. ⁸ Wherefore though I made you sorry with a letter I repent not: though I did repent. For I perceive that that same Epistle made you sorry though it were but for a season. ⁹ But I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye so sorrowed, that ye repented. ¹⁰ For ye sorrowed godly: so that in nothing were ye hurt by us. For godly sorrow causeth repentance, unto salvation not to be repented of: when worldly sorrow causeth death. ¹¹ Behold what diligence this godly sorrow that ye took hath wrought in you: yea it caused you to clear yourselves. It caused indignation, it caused fear, it caused desire, it caused a fervent mind, it caused punishment. For in all things ye have showed yourselves that ye were clear in that matter. ¹² Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that did hurt, neither for his cause that was hurt: but that our good mind which we have toward you in the sight of God, might appear unto you ¹³ Therefore we are comforted, because ye are comforted: yea and exceedingly the more joyed we, for the joy that Titus had: because his spirit was refreshed of you all. ¹⁴ I am therefore not now ashamed, though I boasted myself to him of you. For as all things which I preached unto you are true, even so is our boasting - that I boasted myself to Titus withal - found true. ¹⁵ And now is his inward affection more abundant toward you, when he remembereth the obedience of every one of you: how with fear and trembling ye received him. ¹⁶ I rejoice that I may be bold over you in all things.