Paul's five rhetorical questions create an escalating chiasm from general moral categories (righteousness/wickedness) to the climactic opposition between God's temple and idols.
2 Corinthians 7
1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Paul's Joy over the Church's Repentance
2Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.
3I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.
4Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
5For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.
6Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
7and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
8For though I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you grieve, though just for a while.
9I now rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.
10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.
11For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vindication! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.
12So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.
13Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
14For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
15His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him.
16I rejoice that in everything I am confident concerning you.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Paul concludes his appeal for reconciliation by urging the Corinthians to pursue holiness and open their hearts to his ministry team. He expresses overwhelming joy at receiving Titus's report of the church's repentant response to his previous stern letter. Paul distinguishes between godly sorrow that leads to repentance and worldly sorrow that brings death, celebrating how the Corinthians demonstrated genuine repentance through their earnest care and obedience.
Context
This chapter concludes Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry and transitions toward the collection for Jerusalem discussed in chapters 8-9.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1 Call to Holiness Paul urges believers to cleanse themselves from defilement and perfect holiness in reverence to God.
- 2-4 Appeal for Reconciliation Paul defends his ministry integrity and expresses his deep affection and confidence in the Corinthians.
- 5-7 Comfort Through Titus Paul describes his anxiety in Macedonia and the comfort God provided through Titus's encouraging report.
- 8-12 Godly Sorrow and Repentance Paul explains his joy over their repentant response to his letter, distinguishing godly sorrow from worldly sorrow.
- 13-16 Mutual Joy and Confidence Paul celebrates the refreshing fellowship between Titus and the Corinthians, expressing complete confidence in them.
Do Not Be Yoked with Unbelievers
6:14–7:1 epistle instruction solemn
Paul warns believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, emphasizing the incompatibility between righteousness and wickedness. He calls for separation from unclean things and cleansing from all defilement to perfect holiness.
person_contrast
Paul's five rhetorical questions create an escalating chiasm from general moral categories (righteousness/wickedness) to the climactic opposition between God's temple and idols.
Paul's Joy over the Church's Repentance
7:2–7:16 epistle exhortation joyful
Paul expresses joy over the Corinthians' repentance following his previous letter, explaining how godly sorrow leads to salvation. He celebrates the comfort brought by Titus's report of their positive response.
person_contrast
Paul's vocabulary shifts dramatically here from his typical "grace" and "fellowship" language to emotional terms like "comfort" (paraklesis) appearing six times, revealing his pastoral vulnerability rarely seen elsewhere.
Insights
Paul's vocabulary shifts dramatically here from his typical "grace" and "fellowship" language to emotional terms like "comfort" (paraklesis) appearing six times, revealing his pastoral vulnerability rarely seen elsewhere.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
2 Corinthians 7:1 4 references
Lexicals 4
Galatians 3:3 Lexical
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?
Philippians 2:12 Lexical
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out…
Hebrews 9:14 Lexical
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse yo…
Jude 1:20 Lexical
But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:3 1 reference
2 Corinthians 7:4 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Corinthians 8:2 Lexical
how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their…
1 Thessalonians 1:6 Lexical
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
2 John 1:12 Lexical
Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak fac…
2 Corinthians 7:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Thessalonians 1:7 Lexical
and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels i…
2 Corinthians 2:13 Lexical
I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Mace…
Luke 11:39 Lexical
The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full…
Matthew 23:27 Lexical
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but i…
Matthew 23:28 Lexical
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
2 Corinthians 7:7 4 references
Lexicals 4
Philippians 2:12 Lexical
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out…
2 Corinthians 1:6 Lexical
But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produc…
2 Corinthians 2:7 Lexical
so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowe…
Matthew 2:18 Lexical
“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be c…
2 Corinthians 7:9 1 reference
2 Corinthians 7:11 4 references
Lexicals 4
Philippians 2:12 Lexical
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out…
2 Corinthians 11:2 Lexical
For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you in marriage to one husband, that I might present you…
James 3:16 Lexical
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
Revelation 3:9 Lexical
Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will…
2 Corinthians 7:13 2 references
Lexicals 2
2 Corinthians 7:14 1 reference
2 Corinthians 7:15 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ephesians 6:5 Lexical
Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of yo…
Philippians 2:12 Lexical
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out…
1 Corinthians 2:3 Lexical
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...