2 Corinthians Chapter 7

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 16 Verses

What is 2 Corinthians 7 about?

Paul's defense of his apostleship and the theology of the ministry of reconciliation through weakness and suffering. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.
3I say it not to condemn [you]: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.
4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
5For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but [we were] afflicted on every side; without [were] fightings, within [were] fears.
6Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, [even] God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.
8For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret [it] (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season),
9I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.
10For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, [a repentance] which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.
12So although I wrote unto 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 made manifest unto you in the sight of God.
13Therefore we have been comforted: And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.
14For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
15And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Having therefore these promises, etc..] That God will walk in his temple, and dwell in his churches, be their God, and they his people, that he will receive them, and be their Father, and they his sons and daughters; which promises they had not in hope, as Old Testament saints had the promises of the Messiah and his kingdom, and as New Testament saints have of the resurrection, the new heavens and new earth, and of appearing with Christ in glory; but in hand, in actual possession; for God was really become their God and Father, and they were his people and children; they had had communion with him, and were…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“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. (2Co. 7:1-16) cleanse ourselves--This is the conclusion of the exhortation (Co2 6:1, Co2 6:14; Jo1 3:3; Rev 22:11). filthiness--"the unclean thing" (Co2 6:17). of the flesh--for instance, fornication, prevalent at Corinth (Co1 6:15-18). and spirit--for instance, idolatry, direct or indirect (Co1 6:9; Co1 8:1, Co1 8:7; Co1 10:7, Co1 10:21-22). The spirit (Psa 32:2) receives pollution through the flesh, the instrument of uncleanness. perfecting holiness--The…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Having therefore these promises - The promises referred to in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; the promise that God would be a Father, a protector, and a friend The idea is, that as we have a promise that God would dwell in us, that he would be our God, that he would be to us a Father, we should remove from us whatever is offensive in his sight, and become perfectly holy. Let us cleanse ourselves - Let us purify ourselves. Paul was not afraid to bring into view the agency of Christians themselves in the work of salvation. He, therefore, says, ‘let us purify ourselves,’ as if Christians had much to do; as if their own…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Let us cleanse ourselves - This is the latter part of the exhortation, which was proposed, Co2 6:1, and resumed, Co2 6:14. From all pollution of the flesh - All outward sin. And of the spirit - All inward. Yet let us not rest in negative religion, but perfect holiness - Carrying it to the height in all its branches, and enduring to the end in the loving fear of God, the sure foundation of all holiness. 2 Corinthians 7:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“7:1 Paul wanted the church to be a holy people, filled with God’s presence. • because we fear God: We should be reverent in the presence of a holy God (see study note on 5:11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“therefore: Co2 1:20, Co2 6:17, Co2 6:18; Rom 5:20, Rom 5:21, Rom 6:1-11; Heb 4:1; Pe2 1:4-8 let: Psa 51:10, Psa 119:9; Pro 20:9, Pro 30:12; Isa 1:16; Jer 13:27; Eze 18:30-32; Eze 36:25, Eze 36:26; Mat 5:8, Mat 12:33, Mat 23:25, Mat 23:26; Luk 11:39, Luk 11:40; Tit 2:11-14; Jam 4:8; Pe1 1:22, Pe1 2:11; Jo1 1:7, Jo1 1:9, Jo1 3:3 filthiness: Isa 55:7; Jer 4:14; Co1 6:20; Eph 2:3; Th1 5:23 perfecting: Mat 5:48; Eph 4:12, Eph 4:13; Phi 3:12-15; Th1 3:13, Th1 4:7; Heb 12:23; Pe1 5:10 in: Ch2 19:9; Psa 19:9; Pro 8:13, Pro 16:6; Act 9:31; Heb 12:28 2 Corinthians 7:2”
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