John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. For though I made you sorry with a letter , etc..] His former epistle, relating to the incestuous person: I do not repent, though I did repent ; not of writing the letter, which was wrote by divine inspiration; but of the sorrow occasioned by it, though now he did not repent of that: for I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though it were but for a season ; inasmuch as the sorrow was true, hearty, and genuine, though it was but for a time, the apostle was entirely satisfied, and the more pleased, because of its brevity, since it was sincere.
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
οτι 3754 CONJ ει 1487 COND και 2532 CONJ ελυπησα 3076 5656 V-AAI-1S υμας 5209 P-2AP εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF επιστολη 1992 N-DSF ου 3756 PRT-N μεταμελομαι 3338 5736 V-PNI-1S ει 1487 COND και 2532 CONJ μετεμελομην 3338 5711 V-INI-1S βλεπω 991 5719 V-PAI-1S γαρ 1063 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF επιστολη 1992 N-NSF εκεινη 1565 D-NSF ει 1487 COND και 2532 CONJ προς 4314 PREP ωραν 5610 N-ASF ελυπησεν 3076 5656 V-AAI-3S υμας 5209 P-2AP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Repent (metamelomai). See on Matt. xxi. 29. Rev., regret it.Though I did repent. Punctuate as Am. Rev., I do not regret it: though (even if) I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season) I now rejoice.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:8 {Though} (ei kai). If also. Paul treats it as a fact. {With my epistle} (en tei epistolei). The one referred to in #2:3f. {I do not regret it} (ou metamelomai). this verb really means "repent" (be sorry again) which meaning we have transferred to metanoew, to change one's mind (not to be sorry at all). See #Mt 21:30; 27:3 for the verb metamelomai, to be sorry, to regret as here. Paul is now glad that he made them sorry. {Though I did regret} (ei kai metemelomen). Imperfect indicative in the concessive clause. I was in a regretful mood at first. {For I see} (blepw gar). A parenthetical explanation of his present joy in their sorrow. B D do not have gar. The Latin Vulgate has _videns_ (seeing) for blepwn. {For a season} (pros h"ran). Cf. #1Th 2:17. It was only "for an hour."
