“See the very same thing!
How much earnestness
This godly grief
Has produced
In you!
What eagerness
To clear yourselves!
What indignation!
What fear!
What longing!
What zeal!
What vindicative punishment!
At every point
You have proved yourselves
Guiltless
In this matter.”
ἰδοὺ γὰρ αὐτὸ τοῦτο τὸ κατὰ Θεὸν λυπηθῆναι πόσην κατειργάσατο ὑμῖν σπουδήν, ἀλλὰ ἀπολογίαν, ἀλλὰ ἀγανάκτησιν, ἀλλὰ φόβον, ἀλλὰ ἐπιπόθησιν, ἀλλὰ ζῆλον, ἀλλὰ ἐκδίκησιν. ἐν παντὶ συνεστήσατε ἑαυτοὺς ἁγνοὺς εἶναι τῷ πράγματι.
Paul said that they should see (ἰδοὺ γὰρ) the very same thing (αὐτὸ τοῦτο)! How much (πόσην) earnestness (σπουδήν) this godly or divine grief (τὸ κατὰ Θεὸν λυπηθῆναι) has produced (κατειργάσατο) in them (ὑμῖν)! What eagerness to clear themselves or defend themselves (ἀλλὰ ἀπολογίαν)! They had indignation (ἀλλὰ ἀγανάκτησιν), fear (ἀλλὰ φόβον), longing (ἀλλὰ ἐπιπόθησιν), zeal (ἀλλὰ ζῆλον), and vindictive punishment (ἀλλὰ ἐκδίκησιν)! At every point they have proved themselves guiltless (ἁγνοὺς εἶναι τῷ πράγματι) in this matter (εἶναι τῷ πράγματι). Only the Pauline letters used this word κατειργάσατο, that means to work out, effect by labor, achieve, or bring about, and the word ἁγνοὺς, that means free from ceremonial defilement, holy, sacred, pure chaste. Only this Corinthian letter used this word ἐπιπόθησιν, that means longing, desire, or strong affection, and the word ἀγανάκτησιν that means indignation, or feeling of anger. Paul reminded them of the consequences of this diving grief that that they had experienced. They are now more earnest in seeking God. They are willing to defend themselves. At the same time, they had indignation at wrong things. They had fear of God. They longed for the holy spiritual things. They had zeal for Christ. They were willing to accept vindictive punishment. All along, no matter what they were doing, they proved they were not guilty of any serious matter. Paul listed a series of good things that had happened because of their repentance or metanoia brought about by God’s grief in them. Can repentance or metanoia lead to a better life?