¹³For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.

Comfort is a big theme in this letter of Paul’s, having been included in the opening teaching found in 2 Cor. 1:3–7. Paul was continually looking for God’s help and encouragement. With the Corinthians, we tend to see this is as slim pickings since there was so much about them to discourage Paul. However, nothing brings more joy to a teacher than to hear of his listeners’ response of obedience.

Titus, who had just returned from visiting them, apparently brought back the good report to Paul. In fact, Titus found the time with them spiritually refreshing (literally, the word carries the connotation of being restful as well). What a welcome relief for the apostle. This church made for the greatest challenge to Paul’s ministry of all the churches. They were challenging in their slow spiritual growth, carnal behavior, and resistance to his apostolic authority. Yet in the Corinthian church we see a positive growth as a result of direct, courageous teaching by Paul.

This apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:7–8) never gave up on them; his sacrifices were not wasted. In fact, he had bragged about them to Titus. Although Titus was a frequent companion of Paul’s and a disciple of particular attention (one of Paul’s letters to him is enshrined in inspired Scripture entitled with his name), he apparently was not with Paul when the church at Corinth was established. Titus’ return to his mentor after visiting the Corinthians proved Paul right in his boasting. They were everything Paul said them to be.

Normally we think of bragging or boasting as bad, but that is true only when it is focused on ourselves. Paul was over the top in his assessment of the Corinthians. In other words, despite their many challenges, the Corinthians were making progress in their obedience to Christ. In fact, he expresses his confidence in them multiple times (2 Cor. 7:4, 8:24, 9:2–3).

Like Paul, we should look for evidence of obedience in the lives of others, even those who have fallen into sin like the Corinthians’ sectarianism, pride, self-centeredness, callousness to sin, and abuse of the Lord’s Supper and spiritual gifts. We should choose to look for the good that God is working in others and boast in their obedience where we see it.

Lord, help me to be gracious to, hopeful for, and boastful in others.