a consoler, are described not by a term expressive of moral excellence, but by a word which simply designates them as sufferers. The Tair^woi are properly simply the low, those who are in depressed circumstances. As, however, it is the ten- dency of such circumstances to render men fearful, or meek, or humble, the word often expresses one or the other of these states of mind. In 10, 1 it means timid as opposed to hold ; in 1 Pet. 5, 5, it is the opposite oi proud. Here, however, it has its simple, proper sense — those who are low, i. e. cast down by suffering so as to be the proper objects of compassion. Luke 1, 52. James 1, 9. Ps. 18, 27. Paul says God comforted him by the coming of Titus, whom he had sent to Corinth to know the state of the church there.
7. And not by his coming only, but by the conso- lation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fer- vent mind toward me ; so that I rejoiced the more.
It was not the pleasure of seeing Titus, so much as the in- telligence which he brought, which comforted the apostle. By the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you^ {i<j> ■vjXLv,) in reference to, or, as concerns you. The fact that Ti- tus was comforted in Corinth was a great consolation to the apostle, and he was made to share in the comfort which Titus had experienced, as the latter reported to him (avayyeAXetv, to bring back word^ to recount^ Acts 14, 27. 16, 38,) your earnest desire^ i. e. either your earnest desire to see me and to secure my approbation ; or, your earnest desire to correct the evils existing among you. The former is to be preferred, both on account of the context and the signification of the word limro- ^rjo-i^, which means strong affection. Your mourning^ (oSvp- //.ds, i. e. wailing^ lamentation^ Matt. 2, 18,) either, mourning on account of their sins, or on account of having offended and pained the apostle. The latter is the more probable on ac- count of what follows. Your fervent mind toioard me^ (C^Xos virlp ifxov,) zeal for me, i. e. the great interest which you took in me. Gal. 4, 17. 18. As the zeal of which the apostle speaks is expressly said to be a zeal of which he was the ob- ject, it is probable that the preceding words {earnest desire and mourning) express their feehng and conduct in reference to him. What was so specially gratifying to him was that in