2 Corinthians 7:16

I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.

The victory had been won; Titus' mission had succeeded; but the problems that remained could be dealt with in confidence. The many were back on the right road; and, with this fundamental achievement, Paul was fully confident of the future of his precious converts at Corinth. Filson spoke of this as "unqualified assurance"; but encouraging words to weak and sinful Christians like those in Corinth could never have been intended to mean that they were perfect and had no further need of Paul. The very epistle we are studying, which was about to be dispatched to Corinth by the hands of Titus, PROVES that the apostle knew many instances in which they still needed correction, teaching, and disciplining. It is not Paul's assurance here that proves he could not also have written 2 Corinthians 10-13; but it is 2 Corinthians 10-13 which prove the nature of the assurance here expressed. It regarded hope, more than it regarded fulfillment.