Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 7:15
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
15. his inward affection] Bowels, margin. See note on ch. 2Co 6:12. The translation here is Tyndale’s.
more abundant ] Literally, more exceeding. See note on 2Co 7:4.
the obedience of you all ] Cf. ch. 2Co 2:9, and 2Co 10:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And his inward affection … – He has become deeply and tenderly attached to you. His affectionate regard for you has been greatly increased by his visit. On the meaning of the word here rendered inward affection ( splangchia, Margin, bowels) see the note on 2Co 6:12. It denotes here: deep, tender attachment, or love.
How with fear and trembling ye received him – With fear of offending, and with deep apprehension of the consequences of remaining in sin. He saw what a fear there was of doing wrong, and what evidence there was, therefore, that you were solicitous to do right.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. And his inward affection] . Those bowels of his-his most tender affection. For the meaning of this word See Clarke on Mt 9:36.
Whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all] This is a very natural picture; he represents Titus as overjoyed even while he is delivering his account of the Corinthian Church. He expatiated on it with extreme delight, and thereby showed at once both his love for St. Paul and his love for them. He loved them because they so loved the apostle; and he loved them because they had shown such kindness to himself; and he loved them because he found so many excellent and rare gifts, joined to so much humility, producing such an exemplary and holy life.
With fear and trembling ye received him.] Ye reverenced his authority; ye were obedient to his directions; and ye dreaded lest any thing should be undone or ill done which he had delivered to you in the name of God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By your obedience to my admonitions and exhortations, you have not only obliged me in a debt of love to you, but Titus also; who joyfully remembers, with what
fear and trembling you received him, lest he should find any thing amongst you that should grieve and offend him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. his inward affectionliterally,”bowels” (compare 2Co 6:12;Phi 1:8; Phi 2:1;Col 3:12).
obedience (2Co2:9).
fear and tremblingwithtrembling anxiety to obey my wishes, and fearful lest there should beaught in yourselves to offend him and me (2Co7:11; compare 1Co 2:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you,…. Or “his bowels”; denoting the tenderness of his heart, the strength of his affections, which inwardly and to a very great degree moved towards them; especially
whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all; to him, and to me by him; to the advice and orders given, which were so readily, cheerfully, and universally complied with; and
how with fear and trembling you received him; that is, with great humility and respect, with much deference to him: considering his character as a minister of the Gospel, and as one sent by the apostle to them, they embraced him with great marks of honour and esteem; for this is not to be understood of any inward slavish fear or dread of mind, or trembling of body at the sight of him, and because he came to know their estate, and with reproofs from the apostle to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Whilst he remembereth (). Present middle participle of , to remind, in the genitive case agreeing with (his, of him).
The obedience of you all ( ). A remarkable statement of the complete victory of Titus in spite of a stubborn minority still opposing Paul.
With fear and trembling ( ). He had brought a stern message (1Co 5:5) and they had trembled at the words of Titus (cf. Eph 6:5; Phil 2:12). Paul had himself come to the Corinthians at first with a nervous dread (1Co 2:3).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And his inward affection,” (kai ta splagechna autou) “and his affections,” heart felt care, also rendered bowels of affection, reciprocated love, gratitude, and tender appreciation for your gracious acceptance of him.
2) “Is more abundant toward you,” (perissosteros eis humas estin) “are toward you abundantly,” shown or given out, exuberantly. His affection toward them was genuine, without dissimulation or pretence, Rom 12:9; 1Ti 1:5; 1Pe 1:22.
3) “Whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all,” (anamimneskomenou ten panton humon hupakoen) “while (as) he recalls the obedience of you all,” to the word of God and letter of Paul, 2Co 2:9.
4) “How with fear and trembling – (has meta phobou kai tromou) “as with fear and trembling,” you received him as my friend and God’s messenger, Heb 13:1-2; Mat 25:35; Rom 12:13. Tho Titus carried Paul’s stern excommunication message to the church they received it in respectful fear and trembling, 1Co 5:5; Ecc 12:13-14.
5) “Ye received him,” (edeksasthe auton) “you all received him,” as from the Lord. He who receives a servant from the Lord, receives the Lord, Mat 10:40-41; Mar 9:37; Luk 9:48. And he who receives not a messenger of God (is a Diotrephes), rejected, disapproved of God in his selfish conduct, 3Jn 1:9.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
15. His bowels more abundantly. As the bowels are the seat of the affections, the term is on that account employed to denote compassion, love, and every pious affection. (657) He wished, however, to express emphatically the idea, that while Titus had loved the Corinthians previously, he had been, at that time, more vehemently stirred up to love them; and that, from the innermost affections of his heart. Now, by these words he insinuates Titus into the affections of the Corinthians, as it is of advantage that the servants of Christ should be loved, that they may have it in their power to do the more good. He at the same time encourages them to go on well, that they may render themselves beloved by all the good.
With fear and trembling. By these two words he sometimes expresses simply respect, (Eph 6:5,) and this perhaps would not suit ill with this passage, though I should have no objection to view the trembling as mentioned particularly to mean, that, being conscious of having acted amiss, they were afraid to face him. It is true that even those, that are resolute in their iniquities, tremble at the sight of the judge, but voluntary trembling, that proceeds from ingenuous shame, is a sign of repentance. Whichever exposition you may choose, this passage teaches, what is a right reception for the ministers of Christ. Assuredly, it is not sumptuous banquets, it is not splendid apparel, it is not courteous and honorable salutations, it is not the plaudits of the multitude, that gratify the upright and faithful pastor. He experiences, on the other hand, an overflowing of delight, when the doctrine of salvation is received with reverence from his mouth, when he retains the authority that belongs to him for the edification of the Church, when the people give themselves up to his direction, to be regulated by his ministry under Christ’s banners. An example of this we see here in Titus. He at length, in the close, confirms again, what he had previously stated — that he had never been offended to such a degree, as altogether to distrust the Corinthians.
(657) “The word σπλάγχνα, ” as is observed by Barnes in his Notes on 2Co 6:12, “commonly means in the Bible the tender affections. The Greek word properly denotes the upper viscera — the heart, the lungs, the liver. It is applied by Greek writers to denote those parts of victims which were eaten during or after the sacrifice. Hence it is applied to the heart, as the seat of the emotions and passions; and especially the tender affections — compassion, pity, love, etc. Our word bowels is applied usually to the lower viscera, and by no means expresses the idea of the word which is used in Greek. ” — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) His inward affection.The margin gives the literal meaning of the Greek, which is used here with the same meaning as in 2Co. 6:12. Perhaps heart, or feelings, would be the best English equivalent. The recollection of what had passed at Corinth had bound him by ties of closest sympathy with the disciples there.
With fear and trembling.The combination is a favourite one with St. Paul. (Comp. 1Co. 2:3; Eph. 6:5; Php. 2:12.) What it means is that Titus had been received, not, as he feared, with petulant resistance, but with respectful reverence, not without an element of fear.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘ And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.’
For Titus has only good memories of them. He remembers how they responded to his authority, and received him with great concern and care for his words, and were eager to learn from him what they should do. And the result is that he has great affection for them indeed.
‘With fear and trembling.’ That is with deep concern and willingness to respond.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Co 7:15 . . . .] joyful result of . A comma only is to be put after 2Co 7:14 : and thus, therefore, his inmost heart (comp. 2Co 6:12 ) is attached to you in a still higher degree (than before his presence there) since he remembers , et.
] is for you . Comp. , 1Co 8:6 ; Rom 11:36 .
] namely, towards him, Titus; for what follows is epexegetica.
. ] i.e. with a zeal, which fears lest it should not do enough for its duty. Comp. on 1Co 2:3 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
Ver. 15. Whiles he remembereth ] Deep affections make deep impressions.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
15. ] enlarges . And his heart is more abundantly (turned) toward you, remembering as he does the obedience of you all, how (i.e. which was shewn in the fact, that) with fear and trembling ye received him. ‘Fear and trembling,’ i.e. ‘lest ye should not pay enough regard to my injunctions, and honour enough his mission from me.’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 7:15 . . . .: and his heart is more abundantly towards you, while he recalls to himself the obedience of you all, how with fear (see reff. and cf. Mat 28:8 , 1Pe 3:15 , for ) and trembling you received him . He had brought a stern message, which involved the excommunication of the unworthy member (1Co 5:5 ); it was no wonder that they trembled at his coming.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
inward affection. Greek. splanchnon. See 2Co 6:12.
more abundant. Same as exceedingly, 2Co 7:13.
toward unto. Greek. eis, as in 2Co 7:9.
remembereth. Greek. anamimneske. See 1Co 4:17,
with. Greek. meta. App-104.
fear and trembling. See 1Co 2:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
15.] enlarges . And his heart is more abundantly (turned) toward you, remembering as he does the obedience of you all, how (i.e. which was shewn in the fact, that) with fear and trembling ye received him. Fear and trembling, i.e. lest ye should not pay enough regard to my injunctions, and honour enough his mission from me.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 7:15
2Co 7:15
And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.-And the true spiritual love of Titus for them was increased when he remembered how gladly they received him with fear and trembling lest they had departed from the word of God.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
inward affection is: Gr. bowels are, 2Co 6:12, Gen 43:30, 1Ki 3:26, Son 5:4, Phi 1:8, Col 3:12, 1Jo 3:17
the obedience: 2Co 2:9, 2Co 10:5, 2Co 10:6, Phi 2:12, 2Th 3:14
with: 2Co 7:10, 2Co 7:11, Ezr 9:4, Ezr 10:9, Job 21:6, Psa 2:11, Psa 119:120, Isa 66:2, Hos 13:1, Act 16:29, Eph 6:5, Phi 2:12
Reciprocal: Luk 8:47 – she came 2Co 7:13 – because 2Th 3:4 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 7:15. Actual obedience is more important than mere professions of agreement. The Corinthians not only showed a friendly attitude toward the epistle of Paul (sent to them by Titus), but confirmed It by doing their duty, and this was also accompanied with friendliness to Titus for having brought the message to them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Co 7:15. And his inward affection is more abundantly toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received himhow, instead of receiving him with cold suspicion, with a haughty disposition to justify yourselves and resent his interference, ye received him with a trembling anxiety to yield implicit obedience to whatever might be deemed necessary to repair the injury that had been done. No wonder, then, that he adds, as a closing word,
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 15 Titus’ love for the Corinthians had grown because of their fearful response to the message of truth delivered.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
The Corinthians’ submissive response to Titus, even though initially they feared him, had endeared these Christians to Titus greatly. Their speedy acquiescence constituted both the basis of Paul’s appeal to them to open their hearts wider to him and the ground of his confidence that they would do so.