2 Corinthians 7

1Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

2Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. 3I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. 4I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.

Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance

5When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. 6But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 7His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!

8I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

11Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 12My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. 13We have been greatly encouraged by this.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind#7:13 Greek his spirit. at ease. 14I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! 15Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. 16I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

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2 Corinthians 7

1Since we have these promises, beloved, #1 Pet. 2:11; 1 John 3:3let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body#7:1 Greek flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul’s Joy

2 # ch. 6:12, 13 Make room in your hearts#7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts for us. #Acts 20:33; [ch. 11:20]We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that #[ch. 6:11-13]you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4I am acting with #ch. 3:12great boldness toward you; #ch. 1:12; 8:24; 9:2I have great pride in you; #ch. 1:4; Phil. 2:17; Col. 1:24; [ch. 6:10]I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5For even #ch. 2:13when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—#[Deut. 32:25; Lam. 1:20]fighting without and fear within. 6But #ch. 1:4God, who comforts the downcast, #ver. 13; [1 Thess. 3:6, 7]comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and 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. 8For #[ch. 2:2] even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though #ch. 2:4I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but #Ps. 38:18; [1 Cor. 5:2]because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10For #[2 Sam. 12:13; Acts 11:18] godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas #[Prov. 17:22]worldly grief produces death. 11For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, #[ch. 2:6]what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one #[1 Cor. 5:1, 2]who 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. 13Therefore #ver. 6we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit #See Rom. 15:32has been refreshed by you all. 14For #ch. 8:24; 9:2; 10:8; [2 Thess. 1:4] whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you #ch. 4:2; 6:7was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers #ch. 2:9; 10:6the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16I rejoice, because I have complete #See ch. 2:3confidence in you.

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