2 Corinthians 7

Listen to 2 Corinthians 7
1 Since we have these promises, beloved, 1let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[a] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul's Joy

2 2Make room in your hearts[b] for us. 3We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.
3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that 4you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
4 I am acting with 5great boldness toward you; 6I have great pride in you; 7I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
5 For even 8when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn--9fighting without and fear within.
6 But 10God, who comforts the downcast, 11comforted us by the coming of Titus,
7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
8 For 12even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it--though 13I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but 14because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For 15godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas 16worldly grief produces death.
11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, 17what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one 18who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
13 Therefore 19we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit 20has been refreshed by you all.
14 For 21whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you 22was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.
15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers 23the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
16 I rejoice, because I have perfect 24confidence in you.

2 Corinthians 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

An exhortation to holiness, and the whole church entreated to bear affection to the apostle. (1-4) He rejoiced in their sorrowing to repentance. (5-11) And in the comfort they and Titus had together. (12-16)

Verses 1-4 The promises of God are strong reasons for us to follow after holiness; we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. If we hope in God as our Father, we must seek to be holy as he is holy, and perfect as our Father in heaven. His grace, by the influences of his Spirit, alone can purify, but holiness should be the object of our constant prayers. If the ministers of the gospel are thought contemptible, there is danger lest the gospel itself be despised also; and though ministers must flatter none, yet they must be gentle towards all. Ministers may look for esteem and favour, when they can safely appeal to the people, that they have corrupted no man by false doctrines or flattering speeches; that they have defrauded no man; nor sought to promote their own interests so as to hurt any. It was affection to them made the apostle speak so freely to them, and caused him to glory of them, in all places, and upon all occasions.

Verses 5-11 There were fightings without, or continual contentions with, and opposition from Jews and Gentiles; and there were fears within, and great concern for such as had embraced the Christian faith. But God comforts those who are cast down. We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, to God, as the author of all the consolation and good we enjoy. Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the Spirit of God, renders the heart humble, contrite, submissive, disposed to mortify every sin, and to walk in newness of life. And this repentance is connected with saving faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort, and the sorrow of the world. The happy fruits of true repentance are mentioned. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments. It wrought a fear of watchfulness, and a cautious fear of sin. It wrought desire to be reconciled with God. It wrought zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make satisfaction for injuries done thereby. Deep humility before God, hatred of all sin, with faith in Christ, a new heart and a new life, make repentance unto salvation. May the Lord bestow it on every one of us.

Verses 12-16 The apostle was not disappointed concerning them, which he signified to Titus; and he could with joy declare the confidence he had in them for the time to come. Here see the duties of a pastor and of his flock; the latter must lighten the troubles of the pastoral office, by respect and obedience; the former make a due return by his care of them, and cherish the flock by testimonies of satisfaction, joy, and tenderness.

Cross References 24

  • 1. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 John 3:3
  • 2. 2 Corinthians 6:12, 13
  • 3. Acts 20:33; [2 Corinthians 11:20]
  • 4. [2 Corinthians 6:11-13]
  • 5. 2 Corinthians 3:12
  • 6. 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 9:2
  • 7. 2 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 2:17; Colossians 1:24; [2 Corinthians 6:10]
  • 8. 2 Corinthians 2:13
  • 9. [Deuteronomy 32:25; Lamentations 1:20]
  • 10. 2 Corinthians 1:4
  • 11. ver. 13; [1 Thessalonians 3:6, 7]
  • 12. [2 Corinthians 2:2]
  • 13. 2 Corinthians 2:4
  • 14. Psalms 38:18; [1 Corinthians 5:2]
  • 15. [2 Samuel 12:13; Acts 11:18]
  • 16. [Proverbs 17:22]
  • 17. [2 Corinthians 2:6]
  • 18. [1 Corinthians 5:1, 2]
  • 19. ver. 6
  • 20. See Romans 15:32
  • 21. 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 10:8; [2 Thessalonians 1:4]
  • 22. 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 6:7
  • 23. 2 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 10:6
  • 24. See 2 Corinthians 2:3

Footnotes 2

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 7

This chapter begins with an inference deduced, from what is said in the latter part of the foregoing chapter, engaging to holiness of heart and life, in opposition to filthiness of flesh and spirit, 2Co 7:1 and the apostle, in order to prevail upon the Corinthians kindly to receive his exhortations, observes his own conduct, and that of his fellow ministers towards them; as that they had done them no injury by the advice they had given them, nor had they corrupted them by unsound doctrine, or had coveted their worldly substance, 2Co 7:2 not that by so saying he would insinuate as if they had been guilty of injury, corruption, and covetousness; it was far from his thoughts to suggest anything of that kind concerning them, for whom he had so great an affection, as never to separate from them, but living and dying to continue the same regards unto them, 2Co 7:3 and which he expresses, and had shown everywhere, by the freedom of speech he had used concerning them, and his boasting of them, and the joy and comfort he had in the midst of his troubles, by the good news he had received of them, 2Co 7:4, which he had in the following manner; for though when in Macedonia he had no rest, partly through outward troubles, and partly through inward fears, 2Co 7:5 yet meeting with Titus, who had been with them, and had brought an account of their state, it was a means God made use of for the comfort of him, 2Co 7:6 and it was not merely the sight of Titus that yielded him this consolation, but the comfortable reception he had met with at Corinth; and also the good effect the apostle's letter written to them had upon them, as related by Titus; what a desire they had to see him, what grief that they should sin, and by it distress him, and what a fervent affection they had for him 2Co 7:7 for which reason he did not repent of the letter he sent them, though it did produce sorrow in them, since that was of the right kind, and was but for a time, 2Co 7:8 yea, he was so far from it, that he was glad, not merely on account of their sorrow, but because their sorrow was a godly one, and issued in repentance; and so they were no losers, but gainers by the epistle, it producing such good effects, 2Co 7:9 which leads him to distinguish between a true right godly sorrow, and a worldly one, and that by their consequences; repentance and salvation following upon the one, and death upon the other, 2Co 7:10 the fruits and evidences of which godly and true repentance he makes mention of in seven particulars, by which it appeared that their sorrow and repentance were sincere and genuine, 2Co 7:11 when the apostle proceeds to observe to them the end he had in view in writing to them, upon the account of the incestuous person, in which he had used great plainness and faithfulness; and this was not merely on account of him that offended, nor only on account of the person injured by him, but chiefly to testify his care of, and concern for their welfare, as a church of Christ, 2Co 7:12 and inasmuch as though they had been grieved, yet were now comforted, it added to the consolation of the apostle and his companions, and the more delighted they were, when they understood what a reception Titus had among them, what reverence he was had in, what respect was shown him, and care was taken of him, 2Co 7:13 and the rather, seeing the apostle had boasted of the liberality, generosity, and affectionate regard of the Corinthians to the ministers of the Gospel, Titus found it to be all true what he had said; so that he had no reason to be ashamed, as he must have been, had they behaved otherwise, 2Co 7:14 and still it gave him further pleasure, that by their behaviour to Titus, they had gained his heart, and increased his affection towards them; which he could not but express, whenever he called to mind, or made mention of the great respect, veneration, and obedience, they yielded to him, 2Co 7:15 and indeed it was not only in this instance, but in all others, the apostle had confidence concerning them, which heightened his joy and pleasure in them, 2Co 7:16.

2 Corinthians 7 Commentaries

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.