Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more we rejoiced at the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul has been comforted by the fact that those whom he rebuked wished to mend their ways. But on learning from Titus that they were experiencing pain on account of their error, he was consoled even more and filled with joy, because their resolve had been confirmed by their behavior. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
Therefore we were comforted. By your repentance, zeal, &c, as was said (vers6 , 7 , 9 , 11). The Latin version points this verse as follows: "Before God, therefore, we were comforted. But in our comfort we joyed the more," &c. If with some Greek copies we read "in your comfort," S. Paul refers to the good news that he had heard of their repentance. "The tears of penitents," says S. Bernard, "are the wine of angels," nay, they are the wine of penitents, for nothing so makes glad the heart as compunction. How sweet to the penitent is it with the Magdalene to weep at the feet of Jesus, to bathe them with tears, to wipe them, to kiss them, and then to hear: "Thy sins are forgiven thee." None but one who has tried it knows this sweetness.
Therefore we have been comforted.
Since we both showed our care for you and have been wholly successful. As he said also in another place, Now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord; 1 Thessalonians 3:8 and again, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For this is life, this comfort, this consolation to a teacher possessed of understanding; the growth of his disciples.
4. For nothing does so declare him that bears rule as paternal affection for the ruled. For begetting alone constitutes not a father; but after begetting, also loving. But if where nature is concerned there is so great need of love, much more where grace is concerned. In this way were all the ancients distinguished. As many, for instance, as obtained a good report among the Hebrews, by this were made manifest. So was Samuel shown to be great, saying, But God forbid that I should sin against God in ceasing to pray for you: 1 Samuel 12:23 so was David, so Abraham, s...
And in your comfort, we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
See again how he exalts their praises, and shows their love. For having said, 'I was pleased that my Epistle wrought so much and that you gained so much,' for I rejoice, he says, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry unto repentance; and having shown his own love, for he says, Though I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that our care for you might be made manifest to you: again he mentions another sign of their good will, which brings them great praise and shows the genuineness of their affection. For, in your comfort , he says, we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus. And yet this is no sign of one that loves them exceedingly; rejoicing rather for Titus than for them. 'Yes,' he replies, 'it is, for I joyed not so much for his cause as for yours.' Therefore ...
