2 Corinthians 7:5-7 - Harassed!

7:5

Paul is continuing the narrative from 2 Cor 2:12,13. He had left Troas to go to Macedonia. “This body of ours had no rest”. Paul felt the turmoil within himself. We sometimes think that if only our faith was strong enough then we would have perfect peace all the time. The New Testament record says otherwise! In this letter we have read of the turmoil that Paul experienced. Jesus Himself said His soul was in anguish (Lk 22:44).  In addition to the inner anguish of wondering about the situation in Corinth, and Titus, Paul was harassed externally (ie by others) as well. “Conflicts on the outside, fears with in”. This is part of the normal Christian life!

7:6

So experiencing “conflicts on the outside, fears within” is normal, but so is the comfort of God! At the beginning of the letter Paul spoke a lot about receiving comfort from the God of all comfort, and he does so again here. Our God “comforts the downcast”. So if we are downcast we should expect to receive the comfort of God at some point. God did this here by sending Titus. Sometimes the comfort will come through inner peace, at other times it will come through other Christians, in this case Titus.

7:7

Paul was comforted both by the arrival of Titus and the news that he brought with him, about the deep concern that the Corinthians had for Paul. The practical things of life matter. God works through practical ways and through spiritual ways. In fact the two go together.