2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow. Literally, “according to God,” that is, in the way prescribed by, or acceptable to, God. This is not sorrow at being found out or in anticipation of being punished. It is genuine sorrow for sin, repentance of it, separation from it, and determination henceforth to resist, by the grace of Christ, the temptation that led to it (see on Matthew 5:3; 1 John 1:9). Embarrassment occasioned by exposure, fear of the possibility of exposure, injured pride, or even profound regret over what has happened — none of this is “godly sorrow.” In “godly sorrow” there is recognition and admission that one has wronged God and his fellow men, adequate effort to right the wrong, and a reorientation of the life with the purpose of avoiding a repetition of the same mistakes. This entire process is possible only by virtue of the grace of Christ, made operative in the mind and the life by the Holy Spirit. True sorrow for sin is the result of recognizing one’s accountability to God for his conduct, and is possible only when that relationship is acknowledged. Perhaps the supreme illustration of the difference between true and false sorrow for sin lies in the contrast between Peter and Judas during the trial of Jesus. Both felt bitter remorse, but with the one there was true sorrow for sin, which led to a new life in Christ; with the other there was only sorrow for the consequences, which led to utter despair and then suicide.

Repentance … repented. Greek metanoia … metamelomai (see on verse 9). The use of these two words for repentance in one sentence makes a clear distinction between them. The translation, “a repentance … not to be regretted” accurately reflects the meaning.

Sorrow of the world. Worldly sorrow consists of regret for the consequences of the sin rather than for the sin itself, and at being discredited before the world and worldly friends (1 Samuel 15:30). Worldly sorrow plays only upon the surface of the problem. It mounts no higher than the man himself, and his own feelings. It leads to future regret and to deeper distress. It fills the mind with discontent, the heart with resentment and chagrin. It embitters and shortens life. A person who truly repents will never regret having done so. Indeed, the “sorrow of the world” often compounds misery by goading a man into further folly. It leads to ruin and to death (Genesis 4:12; 1 Samuel 31:3-6; 2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:3-5).