II Corinthians 7:13 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 7:13 Commentary: Joy in Another's Refreshment
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Paul's joy over Titus's joy reveals the deep interconnection of Christian encouragement and mutual ministry.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul’s comfort is confirmed, and his joy is amplified because Titus was refreshed by the Corinthians’ warm reception.
- Key words: paraklēsis (comfort/encouragement), chara (joy), anapauō (refresh/give rest).
- Main debate: The textual variant “your” vs. “our” comfort in the first clause; oldest manuscripts support “our comfort.”
- Theological theme: Mutual encouragement in the body of Christ, joy shared is joy multiplied.
- Best use: A model for how church leaders can find their own encouragement in the spiritual health of others.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
KJV King James Version 1769
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Therefore we have been comforted: and in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
because of this we have been comforted in your comfort, and more abundantly the more did we rejoice in the joy of Titus, that his spirit hath been refreshed from you all;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For this reason we have been encouraged. And we the rather rejoiced in our encouragement more abundantly by reason of the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Before God: therefore we were comforted. But in our consolation we did the more abundantly rejoice for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por tanto, tomamos consolación de vuestra consolación: empero mucho más nos gozamos por el gozo de Tito, que haya sido recreado su espíritu de todos vosotros.
Por isso fomos consolados com vosso consolo; e muito mais nos alegramos com a alegria de Tito, de que seu espírito foi revigorado por todos vós.
C’ est pourquoi nous avons été consolés. Mais, outre notre consolation, nous avons été réjouis beaucoup plus encore par la joie de Tite, dont l’ esprit a été tranquillisé par vous tous.
Derhalben sind wir getröstet worden, daß ihr getröstet seid. Überschwenglicher aber haben wir uns noch gefreut über die Freude des Titus; denn sein Geist ist erquickt an euch allen.
Daarom zijn wij vertroost geworden over uw vertroosting; en zijn nog overvloediger verblijd geworden over de blijdschap van Titus, omdat zijn geest van u allen verkwikt is geworden.
Perciò siamo stati consolati; e oltre a questa nostra consolazione ci siamo più che mai rallegrati per l’allegrezza di Tito, perché il suo spirito è stato ricreato da voi tutti.
Dlategośmy się ucieszyli z pociechy waszej; aleśmy się więcej ucieszyli z wesela Tytusowego, i ochłodzony jest duch jego od was wszystkich.
Посему мы утешились утешением вашим; а еще более обрадованы мы радостью Тита, что вы все успокоили дух его.
故此，我們得了安慰。並且 在 安慰之中，因 你們 眾人 使 提多 心裡 暢快 歡喜，我們就更加 歡喜了。
So we have been comforted: and we had the greater joy in our comfort because of the joy of Titus, for his spirit had been made glad by you all.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 7:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree on the shape of Paul's joy here. The apostle is comforted because his earlier letter produced genuine repentance in Corinth. But his joy intensifies when he sees Titus's spirits lifted by the congregation's warm reception. Barnes notes that Paul rejoiced in the Corinthians' happiness as they obeyed God and removed the cause of offence. Calvin adds that Paul was 'chiefly taken up with their repentance' even while sharing in Titus's delight. Gill puts it directly: the comfortable estate of churches yields great pleasure to ministers. Clarke observes that Titus gave Paul the most flattering accounts of the Corinthians' improved state. The Cambridge Bible points to a textual preference among modern editors for 'our comfort' over 'your comfort,' but the core meaning remains: Paul's own comfort is multiplied by the joy he sees in his coworker, a joy rooted in the Corinthians' spiritual health.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul's joy is directly tied to the Corinthians' restored relationship with him and to the refreshment of Titus's spirit by the entire congregation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Textual reading: 'our comfort' vs. 'your comfort' | Both readings point to Paul being comforted by the Corinthians' positive response. | The oldest manuscripts (e.g., P46, Sinaiticus) read 'our comfort,' while the majority text reads 'your comfort.' The difference is small; the meaning is essentially the same. |
| Source of Paul's primary joy | Paul rejoices both in the Corinthians' repentance and in Titus's gladness. | Some emphasize that Paul's joy is chiefly about the Corinthians' spiritual state (Calvin, Barnes), while others highlight the role of Titus's personal delight as the immediate trigger for increased joy (Clarke, Gill). |
| Role of human encouragement in ministry | God is the ultimate source of comfort; human agents are instruments (Poole). | Christians differ on how much weight to give to interpersonal affirmation. Some traditions caution against seeking praise, while others see mutual encouragement as a commanded practice (Romans 12:15). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes from Macedonia, probably Philippi, after a period of acute anxiety. He had sent Titus to Corinth with a letter that caused grief (2 Corinthians 7:8-9). The letter's purpose was not punishment but restoration: Paul wanted the Corinthians to see his care for them (v.12). Meanwhile, Paul had been so distressed by Titus's delay that he left Troas for Macedonia (2:13). Now Titus has arrived with news that changes everything.
The Corinthians have responded with earnest care, defence, indignation, and zeal (v.11). Their godly sorrow has produced repentance. In this restored relationship, the congregation receives Titus with 'fear and trembling' (v.15), hospitality, and respect. For a Jewish-Christian leader like Titus, a Gentile coworker of Paul, being welcomed by a mostly Gentile church would have been a powerful sign of unity across ethnic lines.
In the ancient world, a messenger's reception reflected the honour of the one who sent him. By refreshing Titus, the Corinthians were honouring Paul and affirming his apostolic authority. But Paul does not frame it that way. He points instead to Titus's joy as the thing that magnifies his own. This is consistent with Paul's pattern of measuring his own well-being by the spiritual health of others (1 Thessalonians 3:8). The cultural expectation would have been for Paul to boast in his influence; instead he boasts in the joy of his partner.
Poole's annotations capture the theological layer: God is the principal efficient cause of comfort, whatever the instrumental means. Here the means is a refreshed coworker and a repentant congregation, a chain of encouragement that Paul credits fully to God's work.
Textual Notes
The major textual variant concerns the first clause. The Byzantine majority and the KJV read 'in your comfort' (ἐπὶ τῇ παρακλήσει ὑμῶν). But older and more reliable manuscripts (P46, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus) read 'in our comfort' (ἐπὶ τῇ παρακλήσει ἡμῶν). The difference is a single letter (υ vs. η).
Vincent's Word Studies and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown both support the reading 'our comfort,' placing a full stop after 'we have been comforted.' This yields: 'Therefore we have been comforted. And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus.' The sense is not radically altered: Paul is comforted by the outcome, and within that already-comforted state he rejoices even more because of Titus's joy. The consulted sources note no other significant variants for this verse.
Reception History
This verse has been used across church traditions to illustrate the interconnectedness of Christian joy. Early monastic writers saw in it a pattern for spiritual friendship, joy shared between workers in the gospel. The Reformers, particularly Calvin, highlighted Paul's pastoral tenderness as a model for ministers who should find their own comfort in the repentance of their people. Puritan commentators like Matthew Henry and Gill expanded on the phrase 'refreshed by you all,' noting that the entire congregation participated in the refreshment, not just a few. In modern evangelical preaching, the verse often appears in sermons on encouraging church leaders or on the communal nature of Christian joy. It is also cited in discussions of the importance of hospitality: the Corinthians' open reception of Titus became a means of grace to both Paul and Titus.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Paul’s comfort is confirmed. The Corinthians' repentance proves his earlier letter was not wasted. He is at peace.
- Titus’s joy becomes Paul’s joy. Paul’s own heart expands as he watches his coworker be honoured and refreshed.
- Mutual refreshment is the goal of ministry. The whole cycle, writing, grieving, repenting, receiving, ends not in authority but in shared delight.
Five-point outline
- The situation: Paul had written a hard letter; the Corinthians responded well.
- The comfort: Paul is relieved that they are restored, not devastated.
- The amplification: His comfort grows because Titus is overjoyed.
- The source: The Corinthians themselves refreshed Titus’s spirit by their welcome.
- The lesson: Christian joy is rarely solitary, it multiplies when we see others blessed.
Illustration hooks
- The relief a parent feels when a child is honoured by others, and how that relief deepens when the child is genuinely happy.
- A pastor who prays for a strained relationship in the congregation; then hears that a deacon visited the family, and the visit went well. The pastor’s joy is not just for the resolution but for the deacon’s joy in serving.
- A worship team member who sees an attendee smile during a song. The singer’s own joy rises because someone else is encouraged.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does my pastor seem so concerned about how visitors are treated?
- Is it selfish to find joy in being appreciated, or is that part of God’s design?
- How can I be part of refreshing a leader’s spirit this week?
Leading a Discussion
The Christian life is marked by connections that run deeper than casual friendship. In this verse, Paul shows us that his emotional state is tied to the spiritual state of those he serves, and to the well-being of his coworkers. As you discuss, watch for the ways joy flows between people when hearts are restored.
Discussion questions
- Read the verse slowly. What emotions does Paul name in this one sentence?
- Why does Paul mention Titus’s joy as something that increases his own? What does this reveal about their relationship?
- The Corinthians had been grieving (v.9). Now they have refreshed Titus. How does repentance lead to refreshment for others?
- In your experience, when has seeing someone else’s joy multiplied your own joy?
- What might it look like to “refresh the spirit” of a leader or coworker in your church today?
- Paul calls God the source of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3-4). How does that shape the way we receive encouragement from others?
- How can we guard against jealousy when others are honoured, and instead learn to rejoice in their joy?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Romans 12:15 | Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. |
| Romans 15:32 | that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. |
| I Corinthians 12:26 | When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. |
| I Corinthians 13:5 | doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; |
| I Corinthians 13:7 | bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. |
| I Corinthians 16:13 | Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! |
| II Corinthians 2:3 | And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you. |
| II Corinthians 2:13 | I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
For the joy of Titus - Titus, who had now met St. Paul in Macedonia, gave him the most flattering accounts of the improved state of the Corinthian Church; and indeed their kind usage of Titus was a full proof of their affection for St. Paul.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that "your comfort" here means the happiness the Corinthians could expect from obeying Paul and from their own repentance. Paul rejoiced because they removed the cause of offense, sparing them from deep distress. He also found additional joy in Titus's warm reception and growing affection for them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge editors note that modern punctuation and a small textual change shift the meaning. Instead of being comforted in the Corinthians' comfort, Paul says they were comforted, and then rejoiced even more at the joy Titus experienced. This reading ties the comfort more directly to Titus’s own reaction.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes observe that Paul’s comfort came from the Corinthians being comforted, but his greater joy came from seeing Titus’s joy. That joy arose because the Corinthians had refreshed Titus’s spirit, showing how Paul’s apostolic care was bound up with the wellbeing of both the church and his fellow worker.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the apostles' comfort came not simply from the Corinthians' grief but from seeing that their repentance was genuine and complete. What especially deepened this joy was the surprising refreshment Titus received from every member of the church, not just a few, which proved their unity, affection for Paul, and determination to hold fast to the gospel.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes the Greek text shows Paul's comfort is ongoing, not just past: because their aim was achieved, they have been comforted. Their comfort overflowed into even greater joy from seeing Titus's joy, emphasizing how deeply Paul's emotional state was tied to the wellbeing of his fellow workers.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that Paul's goal in writing his severe letter was not to punish the wrongdoer or vindicate the injured party, but to show his genuine pastoral care for the entire church. He then highlights the mutual joy: the Corinthians' repentance refreshed Titus, and that comfort in turn strengthened Paul.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent points to a textual correction that changes "your comfort" to "our comfort" in the best manuscripts. He explains that the comfort Paul and his companions received came from the Corinthians' comfort, and they rejoiced even more in addition to that comfort.