1 Therefore,a having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The Corinthians’ Repentance
2 Open yourhearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, awe have cheated no one.
3 I do not say this to condemn; for aI have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
4aGreat is my boldness of speech toward you, bgreat is my boasting on your behalf. cI am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed, awhen we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but bwe were troubled on every side. cOutside were conflicts, inside were fears.
6 Nevertheless aGod, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by bthe coming of Titus,
7 and not only by his coming, but also by the1 consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For even if I made you asorry with my letter, I do not regret it; bthough I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For agodly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; bbut the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, whataclearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be bclear in this matter.
12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, Idid not doit for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, abut that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
The Joy of Titus
13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit ahas been refreshed by you all.
14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.
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 (II Corinthians 6:1, II Corinthians 6:14; I John 3:3; Revelation 22:11).
of the flesh—for instance, fornication, prevalent at Corinth (I Corinthians 6:15-18).
and spirit—for instance, idolatry, direct or indirect (I Corinthians 6:9; I Corinthians 8:1, I Corinthians 8:7; I Corinthians 10:7, I Corinthians 10:21-22). The spirit (Psalms 32:2) receives pollution through the flesh, the instrument of uncleanness.
perfecting holiness—The cleansing away impurity is a positive step towards holiness (II Corinthians 6:17). It is not enough to begin; the end crowns the work (Galatians 3:3; Galatians 5:7; Philippians 1:6).
fear of God—often conjoined with the consideration of the most glorious promises (II Corinthians 5:11; Hebrews 4:1). Privilege and promise go hand in hand.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 2 Corinthians 7:1:
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