The passage
      v2. Paul begins by asking his readers to accept his apostolic ministry. His enemies (legalists) may claim his teachings undermine morality (justification = freedom from the law = evil living), but he has harmed no one.
      v3. The request in v2 must not be taken as a slight. Paul loves the Corinthians. "You are in my very heart", Moffatt.
      v4. Paul actually has full confidence in them. They are on his team, on the side of the gospel. That was obviously the drift of the report given to Paul by Titus.
      v5. Prior to the report from Titus, Paul had arrived in Macedonia, probably Philippi, buffeted with troubles without and doubts within.
      v6. But then he met his good friend Titus, which was a comforting experience for Paul.
      v7. The greater "comfort" was found in the message brought by Titus. The church in Corinth had swung their affection back to Paul, aware of their sin and sorry for it. Paul's letter to them had done its work (1 Corinthians).
      v8-9. The "painful" letter Paul refers to is most likely 1 Corinthians, although many believe it is a subsequent letter now lost. Knox translates the two verses: "Yes, even if I caused you pain by my letter, I am not sorry for it. Perhaps I was tempted to feel sorry, when I saw how my letter had caused you even momentary pain, but now I am glad; not glad of the pain, but glad of the repentance that pain brought with it."
      v10. "Godly sorrow", or as Moffatt calls it, "the sorrow that God directs", is a sorrow for sin which, through repentance, leads to the joy of forgiveness and eternity. "Worldly sorrow" is immobilizing regret that leads to depression.
      v11. For the Corinthians, "Godly sorrow" prompted them to correct their behavior.
      v12. The punishment of offenders and the vindication of the offended, although the immediate purpose of the "painful" letter, was superseded by a greater end, namely the church's acceptance of their apostle in the sight of God.
      v13. Earlier translations of this verse did not handle the Greek well. Later translations from the RSV onward, split the verse with a new paragraph. Paul's point is that not only was he encouraged by the Corinthians, but Titus was encouraged during his stay with them.
      v14. Paul spoke with pride about the Corinthians to Titus, and his words have proved true.
      v15. During his visit, Titus developed "a most affectionate memory" of them (Knox). The church accepted the demands made of them in Godly fear. They sensed, under God, the importance of submission to the words of their apostle.
      v16. Paul finally affirms his "complete confidence" in the church.

Sorrow
      The psalmist tells us of the "sickness that destroyeth at the noonday." What a wonderful description of the languor, a beautiful word in itself, and one that describes the incapacity that seems to attack us immediately after lunch. At theological college we often had a Bible context exam straight after lunch. After a hearty meal the only thing any of us wanted to do was take a siesta.
      In the monasteries, during the middle ages, the monks were particularly prone to the practice of siestas. Actually, they might have invented them. So "languor" was added to the seven deadly sins: pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and sloth. Thomas Aquinas (13th century) called it "accidia". In his classical sermon titled "The Sorrow of the World", Francis Paget described accidia as "a compound of depression, sloth, and irritability that plunges a man into a lazy languor and works in him constant bitterness." Paul nicely sums it up as a "worldly sorrow that brings death."
      If we can keep ourselves busy then we don't need to mull over our depressing inadequacies, present difficult circumstances, or the lost opportunities of the past. Yet even with all the busyness that we can muster, if we are not careful, depression inevitably sets in and we are immobilized by "worldly sorrow." It is then sloth becomes our master.
      Like the Corinthians we need to practice the art of "Godly sorrow." This is the sorrow that prompts "repentance" and leads to life eternal. Be sorrowful for actions that offend the Lord, and act to do something about their offence.