<p>7:13 <i>Therefore we have been comforted, and in our comfort we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all</i>- Was this really what had happened, with Titus feeling joyful and refreshed by them? 8:23 and 12:18 imply that they accused Titus of being Paul's puppet and part of a crafty scheme to get money out of them. According to the uninspired footnote at the end of the letter, 2 Corinthians was written by Paul and Titus. The &quot;us&quot; references in the letter would therefore refer to Paul and Titus; and it is clear that Corinth were cynical and critical towards the &quot;us&quot;, which would include Titus.</p><p>Yet all the same, Paul's joy for the joy of Titus is instructive. Paul sincerely felt the joy of others as being his personal joy (Rom. 12:15 cp. 1 Cor. 15:31; 2 Cor. 2:3). Because we are in one body, we rejoice with those who rejoice. &ldquo;We are partakers of <i>your</i> joy&rdquo;, Paul could write. The comfort which Titus felt was that which Paul felt (2 Cor. 7:6,7,13); Corinth&rsquo;s joy was Paul&rsquo;s (2 Cor. 7:13). This should ensure a true richness of experience for the believer in Christ, sharing in the joys and sorrows, the tragedies and triumphs, of the one body on the Lord. &ldquo;He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire&rdquo; (Prov. 18:1 RV). This says it all. Any separation from our brethren, whether it be from personal dislike of them or for fear of losing friends amongst others who order us to separate from them&hellip; is all ultimately selfish.</p>