The word translated “longing” (Strong’s Greek 1972) conveys an intense, Spirit-wrought yearning that reaches beyond mere emotion and expresses itself in decisive, God-honoring action. In the New Testament it appears only in 2 Corinthians yet belongs to a wider Pauline vocabulary of desire that reflects both Christ’s own affections and the believer’s sanctified aspirations.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. 2 Corinthians 7:7
2. 2 Corinthians 7:11

Although limited in frequency, these two instances stand at the heart of Paul’s most personal letter, illustrating how genuine longing both comforts a shepherd’s heart and confirms the sincerity of congregational repentance.

Paul’s Joy in Their Longing (2 Corinthians 7:7)

Paul had dispatched Titus to discover how the Corinthians had received his “severe letter.” When Titus returned, he reported “your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more” (2 Corinthians 7:7). Their longing included:
• A restored affection for their apostle after a season of tension.
• A keen desire to see him face to face, echoing the apostolic pattern of personal presence (Romans 1:11).
• A renewed commitment to the gospel he preached, demonstrating that reconciliation within Christ’s body is inseparable from fidelity to Christ’s truth.

For Paul, this longing functioned as tangible evidence that God had preserved the church he founded and that his labor among them had not been in vain.

A Mark of Godly Sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:11)

“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness… what longing, what zeal, what punishment!” (2 Corinthians 7:11). Here longing is listed among seven fruits that sprang from “sorrow according to God.” The term points to a longing
• for holiness—an eagerness to remove anything that dishonors Christ;
• for restored fellowship—both with Paul and within the congregation;
• for vindication of God’s name in the wider community.

Thus longing becomes a diagnostic of true repentance. Where it is absent, remorse may be merely worldly; where present, sorrow has fulfilled its divine purpose.

Roots in the Old Testament Yearning for God

Though the Greek noun itself does not occur in the Septuagint, the concept resonates with psalmic cries such as “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD” (Psalm 84:2). The Corinthian longing therefore stands in continuity with Israel’s covenantal desire for God’s presence, now realized in the fellowship of the risen Christ and His apostles.

Theological Significance

1. Work of the Spirit: Longing is portrayed not as self-generated sentiment but as fruit born of the Spirit’s convicting and comforting ministry (John 16:8-15).
2. Corporate Dimension: This desire is shared by the whole congregation, guarding against individualistic notions of spirituality.
3. Eschatological Orientation: Longing on earth prepares believers for the ultimate satisfaction of seeing Christ (1 John 3:2-3).

Implications for Church Life and Pastoral Ministry

• Shepherds draw comfort from evidences of congregational longing; it assures them that their labor is not empty (1 Thessalonians 3:6-8).
• Discipline and restoration find legitimacy where such longing is manifest; absence of it warns that repentance remains incomplete.
• Congregations should cultivate environments where holy desires are voiced and affirmed—through fervent prayer, worship, and mutual exhortation.

Practical Applications for Believers Today

• Pray for godly longing: “Lord, deepen my yearning for Your presence, Your people, and Your purity.”
• Evaluate repentance by its fruits: authentic sorrow will include a forward-looking desire to honor Christ.
• Express affection tangibly: notes, visits, and acts of service mirror the Corinthians’ eagerness to see Paul and can heal relational breaches.
• Anticipate Christ’s return: earthly longings find their ultimate fulfillment when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), motivating present faithfulness.

Strong’s 1972 therefore describes more than emotion; it is kingdom-shaped desire tested by trials, authenticated by action, and destined to be satisfied in the unveiled presence of Jesus Christ.