2 Corinthians 7:1

These promises (tauta ta epaggelia). So many and so precious ( 2 Peter 2:4 epaggelmata; Hebrews 11:39 ). Let us cleanse ourselves (kaqariswmen eautou). Old Greek used kaqairw (in N.T. only in John 15:2 , to prune). In Koin kaqarizw occurs in inscriptions for ceremonial cleansing (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 216f.). Paul includes himself in this volitive aorist subjunctive. From all defilement (apo panto molusmou). Ablative alone would have done, but with apo it is plainer as in Hebrews 9:14 . Molusmo is a late word from molunw, to stain (see on "1Co 8:7"), to pollute. In the LXX, Plutarch, Josephus. It includes all sorts of filthiness, physical, moral, mental, ceremonial, "of flesh and spirit." Missionaries in China and India can appreciate the atmosphere of pollution in Corinth, for instance. Perfecting holiness (epitelounte agiosunhn). Not merely negative goodness (cleansing), but aggressive and progressive (present tense of epitelew) holiness, not a sudden attainment of complete holiness, but a continuous process ( 1 Thessalonians 3:13 ; Romans 1:4 ; Romans 1:6 ).