SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:10
Porque el dolor que es segn Dios, hace enmienda saludable, de la cual no hay que arrepentirse; pero el dolor del mundo obra muerte.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 7:10
Verse 10. For godly sorrow] That which has the breach of God's holy law for its object. Worketh repentance] A thorough change of mind unto salvation, because the person who feels it cannot rest till he finds pardon through the mercy of God.
But the sorrow of the world worketh death.] Sorrow for lost goods, lost friends, death of relatives, &c., when it is poignant and deep, produces diseases, increases those that already exist, and often leads men to lay desperate hands on themselves. This sorrow leads to destruction, the other leads to salvation; the one leads to heaven, the other to hell.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation , etc..] These words contain a reason, proving that they had received no damage, but profit by the sorrow that had possessed them, from the nature of it, a godly sorrow; a sorrow which had God for its author; it did not arise from the power of free will, nor from the dictates of a natural conscience, nor from a work of the law on their hearts, or from a fear of hell and damnation, but it sprung from the free grace of God; it was a gift of his grace, the work of his Spirit, and the produce of his almighty power; being such, which no means, as judgments, mercies, or the most powerful ministry of themselves could effect; it was owing to divine instructions; it was heightened and increased with a discovery of the love of God, and views of pardoning grace and mercy being attended with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: it had God also for its object, as well as its author; it was a sorrow, ahla ljmd , which is for God, as the Syriac version reads the words, and also the Ethiopic; on the account of God, his honour, interest, and glory; it was a sorrow for sin, because it was committed against a God of infinite holiness, justice, and truth, goodness, grace, and mercy; and it was a sorrow, kata yeon , according to God, according to the mind and will of God; it was, as it is rendered by the Arabic version, grateful to God; what he took notice of, observed, and approved of; and was also such a sorrow as bore some resemblance to what in God goes by the name of grieving and repenting, as that he had made man, because of sin; there being in it a displicency with sin, an hatred of it, and a repentance that ever it was committed: moreover, this sorrow is further described, from its salutary operation, it worketh repentance; it is the beginning of it, a part of it, an essential part of it, without which there is no true repentance; this produces it, issues in it, even in an ingenuous confession of sin, a forsaking of it, and in bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, in the life and conversation: and this repentance is unto salvation; not the cause or author of it, for that is Christ alone; nor the condition of it, but is itself a blessing of salvation, a part of it, the initial part of it, by which, and faith we enter upon the possession of salvation; it is an evidence of interest in it, and issues in the full enjoyment of it: and this, or repentance, is such as is not to be repented of ; or that is stable and immovable, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; which never returns, or goes back, as the Syriac version, but remains the same not repented of; for to either of them may it be applied: salvation is not to be repented of; it is not repented of by God, who repents not, neither of the thing itself, nor of the way and manner in which it is effected, nor of the persons saved by it, and his choice of them to it; nor is it repented of by them, who believe in Christ to the saving of their souls: nor is true repentance, which is connected with it, to be repented of; God does not repent of giving it, for his gifts and calling are without repentance; nor does the repenting sinner repent of it; nor has he any occasion, since it is unto life, even unto eternal life, as the Ethiopic version here renders it; and as it is called repentance unto life, in ( Acts 11:18). This sorrow is likewise illustrated by its contrary, but the sorrow of the world worketh death ; a worldly sorrow is such, as is common to men of the world, as Cain, Pharaoh, Judas, and others; it springs from worldly selfish principles, and proceeds on worldly views; it is often nothing more than a concern for the loss of worldly things, as riches, honours, etc.. or for a disappointment in the gratification of worldly lusts and pleasures: and this worketh death; temporal and eternal death; it sometimes brings diseases and disorders on the body, which issue in death; and sometimes puts men upon destroying themselves, as it did Ahithophel and Judas; it works in the minds of men a fearful apprehension of eternal death, and, if grace prevent not, issues in it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-11 - There were fightings without, or continual contentions with, an opposition from Jews and Gentiles; and there were fears within, an great concern for such as had embraced the Christian faith. But God comforts those who are cast down. We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, to God, as the author of all the consolation an good we enjoy. Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the Spirit of God, renders the hear humble, contrite, submissive, disposed to mortify every sin, and to walk in newness of life. And this repentance is connected with savin faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement. There is a grea difference between this sorrow of a godly sort, and the sorrow of the world. The happy fruits of true repentance are mentioned. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed. It wrough indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments It wrought a fear of watchfulness, and a cautious fear of sin. I wrought desire to be reconciled with God. It wrought zeal for duty, an against sin. It wrought revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make satisfaction for injuries done thereby. Dee humility before God, hatred of all sin, with faith in Christ, a ne heart and a new life, make repentance unto salvation. May the Lor bestow it on every one of us.
Greek Textus Receptus
η 3588 T-NSF γαρ 1063 CONJ κατα 2596 PREP θεον 2316 N-ASM λυπη 3077 N-NSF μετανοιαν 3341 N-ASF εις 1519 PREP σωτηριαν 4991 N-ASF αμεταμελητον 278 A-ASF κατεργαζεται 2716 5736 V-PNI-3S η 3588 T-NSF δε 1161 CONJ του 3588 T-GSM κοσμου 2889 N-GSM λυπη 3077 N-NSF θανατον 2288 N-ASM κατεργαζεται 2716 5736 V-PNI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
10. Sorrow - repentance (luph - metanoian). Paul's words strike effectively at the popular identification of sorrow with repentance. Not to be repented of (ametamelhton). Construe with repentance. The Rev., in order to bring out this connection, amplifies the translation: a repentance which bringeth no regret. The oxymoron (see on Rom. i. 20; iv. 18) is in the A.V. rather than in the Greek. It should be carefully observed that the two words, repentance, not to be repented of, represent different roots and different ideas: repentance (metanoian) denoting the moral change, and to be repented of denoting the sentiment of misgiving or regret (see on Matt. xxi. 29), and so answering to luph sorrow. The Rev. brings out the distinction by substituting regret for repentance. 148 Sorrow of the world. Antithesis with the sorrow which is according to God (A.V., godly sorrow). Sorrow which is characteristic of the world; grief for the consequences rather than for the sin as sin.Worketh (katergazetai). Brings to pass. Notice that the simple verb ejrgazeti is used in the previous clause, the distinction from this verb being obliterated by rendering both worketh. The difference is between contributing to a result and achieving it.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:10 {For godly sorrow} (he gar kata qeon lupe). "For the sorrow according to God" (God's ideal, verse #9). {Worketh repentance unto salvation a repentance without regret} (metanoian eis swterian ametameleton ergazetai). this clause alone should have prevented the confusion between mere "sorrow" (lupe) as indicated in metamelomai, to regret (to be sorry again) and "change of mind and life" as shown by metanoian (metanoew) and wrongly translated "repentance." The sorrow according to God does work this "change of mind and life" unto salvation, a change "not to be regretted" (ametameleton, an old verbal adjective of metamelomai and a privative, but here alone in N.T.). It agrees with metanoian, not swterian. {But the sorrow of the world} (he de tou kosmou lupe). In contrast, the kind of sorrow that the world has, grief "for failure, not for sin" (Bernard), for the results as seen in Cain, Esau (his tears!), and Judas (remorse, metemelth). Works out (perfective use of kat-) death in the end.
