<strong>SORROW</strong> (<span class="hebrew">עֶ֫צֶב</span>, <span class="gknumber">H6776</span>; <span class="greek">λυπέω, πενθέω</span>; <em>grieve</em>, <em>mourn</em>, <em>be sad</em>).<br /><br />

<h2>Christ’s departure.</h2>

Christ’s suffering and departure brings sorrow to His disciples’ hearts (<bibleref ref="John.16.6">John 16:6</bibleref>; cf. <bibleref ref="Matt.9.15">Matt 9:15</bibleref>—it is appropriate to mourn when the bridegroom leaves), but it was good that He go away, for then the Comforter would come (the Comforter of the sorrowful). As the woman in childbirth has sorrow but joy at birth, so the disciples’ sorrow will be turned into joy at His return (<bibleref ref="John.16.21">John 16:21</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="John.16.22">22</bibleref>); when they ask and receive, their joy will then be made full.

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<h2>Rebuke.</h2>

Second Corinthians is practically a treatise on the necessary sorrow that Christians must inflict on each other as they admonish and correct sin. Paul does not desire to make another painful visit (<bibleref ref="Matt.2.1">2:1</bibleref>), nor was his purpose ever just to bring sorrow (<bibleref ref="Matt.2.4">2:4</bibleref>). Instead his goal was godly grief, the sort that produces repentance, salvation, zeal, and finally Paul’s own comfort and joy (<bibleref ref="Matt.7.8-Matt.7.13">7:8-13</bibleref>). Hebrews teaches that the Father’s disciplining of His own sons indeed yields the fruit of repentance even though painful at the time (<bibleref ref="Matt.12.11">12:11</bibleref>). Peter makes a similar statement (<bibleref ref="1Pet.1.6">1 Pet 1:6</bibleref>), that our rejoicing is in our imperishable inheritance, even though its genuineness is tested by various trials for a short time. We shall be approved if we suffer unjustly (<bibleref ref="1Pet.2.19">2:19</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="1Pet.2.20">20</bibleref>). So the inheritance of comfort enables us to sorrow with hope.<br /><br />

<h2>Bibliography</h2>

H. Ridderbos, <em>The Coming of the Kingdom</em> (1950), 185-192.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

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Sorrow