New Testament
2 Corinthians 7
Overview
Building on the promises just cited, Paul urges, "let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God" (7:1). He renews his open-hearted plea—"make room in your hearts for us"—insisting he has wronged, corrupted, and taken advantage of no one, and that they live in his heart "to die together and to live together" (7:2-4). At last Paul resumes the travel narrative suspended at 2:13: his flesh had no rest in Macedonia, beset by fighting without and fear within, until God, who comforts the downcast, comforted him by the arrival of Titus (7:5-7). Titus brought the news Paul longed for—the Corinthians' longing, mourning, and zeal for the apostle. Paul reflects on his severe letter: though he had regretted grieving them, he now rejoices, not that they were grieved, but that their grief led to repentance (7:8-9). He then draws the crucial distinction: "godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death," and he lists the marks of their godly sorrow—earnestness, eagerness to clear themselves, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and the punishing of wrong (7:10-11). The chapter ends with Paul's overflowing joy and renewed confidence, magnified because Titus too was refreshed by them (7:12-16).
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3I speak not this to condemn you : for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you .
4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things .