2 Corinthians 7 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

2 Corinthians 7

7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body¹ and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul’s Joy

2 Make room in your hearts² for us. We 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 you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted 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 even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I 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 because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly 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, what 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 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. 13 Therefore we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

Footnotes

[1] 7:1 Greek flesh
[2] 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts

Commentary

v1: The promises of God's blessings in our lives help us to break from sins. All filthiness must be cut out of our lives. Filthiness of spirit perhaps refers to idolatrous religion. Since we have reverence for God, we seek to perfect holiness in our lives. The clear expectation is that God's people are holy.

v2-3: Following on from 6.11-13. Paul encourages the Corinthians to receive him. Did they not remember his commitment to them? Paul had a deep affection for them, did they not realise that? His love for them was not less just because they had mistreated him. See 12.15.

v4-5: Paul had previously received comfort in Macedonia, esp. in Philippi, Acts 16.12. God sent comfort in their conflicts and fears, such that Paul was joyful in all his tribulations.

v6: Paul had evidently become downcast. But the Lord knows His own, and brings comfort, esp. through others.

v7: Titus came bringing blessing from Corinth, and assured Paul of their prayerful support. How sad that this attitude had not continued. Their longing and sorrow and zeal were strong. No wonder Paul's joy was greater than ever.

v8-11: Godly sorrow produces repentance, contrast Matt 27.3-5. Paul's first letter had brought sorrow, since he had pointed out much that was wrong. The Corinthians had apparently sought to put things right (v11), and Paul encourages them in this attitude.

Again, as in v7, Paul uses strong Greek words here to describe the Corinthians' eagerness, indignation, desire to put matters right. Relationships matter. So there is obligation to put right what is wrong and to strengthen what is weak.

Paul contrasts worldly sorrow, which brings death, for it offers no hope.

v12: Paul had a concern for the church as a whole, and for the glory of God. He did not take sides in an argument; rather he declared the truth of God.

v13-16: The growing relationship between Paul and Titus and the Corinthians. Titus had been blessed at Corinth, and that was an encouragement to Paul. This provides some insight into the working of the 'apostolic band,' which included Paul and Titus. For the individual church, there was the blessing of having such able men to provide support. See also 8.16-24.