2 Corinthians 7:9

Paul rejoices not that they were saddened but that their sorrow led to repentance, a godly grief that did them no harm. The goal of correction is repentance, not mere pain.

Cross-references · 16

• Luke 15:7I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
• Jer 31:18–20“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are Yahweh my God.
• Ps 38:18For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.
• Eccl 7:3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
• 2 Cor 7:10–11For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.
• 2 Cor 13:8–10For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
• Zech 12:10I will pour on David’s house, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.
• 2 Cor 10:8–10For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,
• Isa 6:9–11He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand; and you see indeed, but don’t perceive.’
• Luke 15:10Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
• Acts 20:21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
• 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
• Luke 15:17–24But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
• 2 Cor 7:6–7Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
• Luke 15:32But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
• 2 Cor 2:16to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

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