2 Corinthians 7 KJV
Paul's Joy at Their Repentance
2 Corinthians Chapter 7: Paul's Joy at Their Repentance
This chapter explores themes of Repentance. The chapter supplies key evidence for a lost intermediate letter from Paul to Corinth, as the epistle described in verses 8-9 is distinguished from 1 Corinthians by its severe tone and the unique sorrow it produced, supporting partition theories of 2 Corinthians.
1aving therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great 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.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And 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.
8 For 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.
9 Now 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.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For 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.
12 Wherefore, 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.
13 Therefore 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.
14 For 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.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
โ โ arrow keys to navigate chapters ยท spacebar to play/pause audio
Did You Know?
The chapter supplies key evidence for a lost intermediate letter from Paul to Corinth, as the epistle described in verses 8-9 is distinguished from 1 Corinthians by its severe tone and the unique sorrow it produced, supporting partition theories of 2 Corinthians.
Paul's claim in verse 4 to have 'great boldness of speech' toward the Corinthians yet also 'great glorying' in them reverses the expected apostolic posture, revealing a mutual boasting dynamic that anticipates the later collection chapters.
The sevenfold effects of godly sorrow listed in verse 11 (carefulness, clearing of yourselves, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, revenge) form a deliberate heptad that echoes other biblical patterns of completeness while cataloging the Corinthians' active, justice-oriented response rather than mere inward contrition.
Verse 5's reference to 'fightings without, and fears within' while in Macedonia synchronizes the letter with Acts 20 and underscores the psychological cost of apostolic ministry, showing Paul's emotional dependence on Titus's report from Corinth.
The phrase 'godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of' in verse 10 employs a striking wordplay (metanoian... ametameleton) that theologically distinguishes irreversible salvific change from reversible regret, influencing later distinctions between attrition and contrition.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain cleanse ourselves โ This is the conclusion of the exhortation (2Co 6:1, 14; 1Jo 3:3; Re 22:11). filthiness โ "the unclean thing" (2Co 6:17). of the flesh โ for instance, fornicatioโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 2 Corinthians 7 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Self-purification their duty resulting from the foregoing. His love to them, and joy at the good effects on them of his former epistle, as reported by titus.
- 1
- cleanse ourselves โ This is the conclusion of the exhortation (2Co 6:1, 14; 1Jo 3:3; Re 22:11). filthiness โ "the unclean thing" (2Co 6:17). of the flesh โ for instance, fornication, prevalent at Corinth (1Co 6:15-18). and spirit โ for instance, idolatry, direct or indirect (1Co 6:9; 8:1, 7; 10:7, 21, 22). The spirit (Ps 32:2) receives pollution through the flesh, the instrument of uncleanness. perfecting holiness โ The cleansing away impurity is a positive step towards holiness (2Co 6:17). It is not enough to begin; the end crowns the work (Ga 3:3; 5:7; Php 1:6). fear of God โ often conjoined with the consideration of the most glorious promises (2Co 5:11; Heb 4:1). Privilege and promise go hand in hand.
- 2
- Receive us โ with enlarged hearts (2Co 6:13). we have wronged... corrupter... defrauded no man โ (compare 2Co 7:9). This is the ground on which he asks their reception of (making room for) him in their hearts. We wronged none by an undue exercise of apostolic authority; 2Co 7:13 gives an instance in point. We have corrupted none, namely, by beguilements and flatteries, while preaching "another Gospel," as the false teachers did (2Co 11:3, 4). We have defrauded none by "making a gain" of you (2Co 12:17). Modestly he leaves them to supply the positive good which he had done; suffering all things himself that they might be benefited (2Co 7:9, 12; 2Co 12:13).
Read all 17 notes on 2 Corinthians 7 โ