2Corinthians 7 - Outline of 2Corinthians (MENU page)

II. The Characteristics of Paul's Ministry. 1:8- 7:16
  A. Comforted and Comforting. 1:8- 2:14
  B. Triumphant. 2:14-17
  C. Accredited. 3:1-5
  D. Spiritual & Glorious - Not Legal. 3:6-18
  E. Honest. 4:1-7
  F. Suffering but Sustained. 4:8- 6:10
  G. Calling for separation and cleansing. 6:11- 7:1
  H. Burdened for the well-being of the church. 7:2-16
1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
  Verse 1 properly belongs with the previous section concerning the believer's separation and cleansing.
  Therefore, comment on this verse is included in the Book Notes on ch.6.
2 Receive us {GK=choreo, lit., make room for us (in your hearts)};
we have wronged no man {GK=adikeo, caused no injustice, or injury},
we have corrupted {GK=phtheiro, ruined, wasted} no man,
we have defrauded {GK=pleonekteo, made covetous gain of} no man. {cp. 2Cor 6:3-7}
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]. {2Cor 2:4,5; 3:2; 6:11b,12}
4 Great [is] my boldness of speech {ie., frankness} toward you, {2Cor 6:11a}
great [is] my glorying {boasting} 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] fightingss {battles}, within [were] fears {terror}.
  Following the uprising in Ephesus, and Paul's hasty departure, trouble had followed him to other places (Acts 20:1,2). Confronted with continuing external persecution, and the fearful internal memories of previous threats to his life, he could not relax (cp. 2Cor 1:8-10).
  Yet, his heart was much more troubled by the lack of communication from the Corinthian church. He was so fearful for their spiritual well-being, that he had sent Titus to assess their condition. When Titus failed to return in a timely manner, Paul left a fruitful ministry in Troas, to find him. His great concern, for his spiritual children, was a far heavier burden than the persecution he experienced in Macedonia (2Cor 2:12,13).
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, {2Cor 1:3,4}
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 {longing},
your mourning {lamentation}, your fervent mind {zeal} toward me;
so that I rejoiced the more.
  ...I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. (v.4c)
    The report, by Titus about Corinth, caused Paul to rejoice in the midst of great trouble.
    Paul was encouraged by Titus, who had been encouraged by the spiritual health of the Corinthian church, as evidenced by their response to Paul's previous letter, in which he had issued difficult instructions. Contrary to Paul's fears, the Corinthian believers still held him in high regard, even as they sorrowed deeply for their failure to deal quickly with sin in their midst (1Cor 5:1,2).
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 {caused to grieve},
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 {diligence} 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 {vindication, punishment}!
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.
  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent...
    After Paul had written to chastise and correct the church, regarding their tolerance toward the brother involved in fornication (1Cor 5:1-13), he had been overtaken with regret, thinking that his words may have been too harsh. He had no desire to discourage these new believers under a weight of grief. Therefore, he was relieved to hear that their sorrow had led to action, which removed the cause of grief.
  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry {grieved}, but that ye sorrowed to repentance...
    In this passage, two different words, are translated as 'repent' (or 'repentance').
    - in v.8 and v.10b - GK=metamellomai, lit., to be concerned afterward, regret.
    The words, which Paul regretted writing, had been received to good effect.
    Therefore, he no longer had any regret, but rather was full of rejoicing.
  - in v.9 and v.10a - GK=metanoia, lit., an after-heeding, a change of mind.
      (This word, in its verb form means: to reconsider, to relent)
      The Corinthian church, upon seeing their error, had turned from it, by taking corrective action.
    For godly sorrow worketh repentance {a change of mind} to salvation
    not to be repented of {never to be regretted}:
    but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
      Sorrow that causes repentance is "godly" (v.10) and "after a godly manner" (v.9). In the Greek, both terms are literally "according to God." Such sorrow moves the grieving heart to turn from what offends God, to align with what pleases Him. In contrast, the world sorrows, not for the offensiveness of their rebellious corruption, but for the resulting and deserved consequences.
      Salvation is God's provision for those longing to be free of sin and fully submitted to His Will.
      There are three aspects, or tenses, of Salvation:
      1. The lost sinner, upon confessing his sin and turning in faith to the Savior,
         'has been saved' {delivered} from sin's guilt and penalty (death),
         and has already entered into eternal life in Christ (Acts 16:30,31; Joh 5:24; cp. 2Cor 2:15).
      The world: sorrows over wrong while excusing it (eg., Mark 6:26), grieves over earthly loss while shunning heavenly gain (eg., Mark 10:21,22), weeps for blessings lost though previously despised (Heb 12:16,17), blames God for its own failures (eg., Gen 3:12), takes ineffective action to relieve its guilt, for it refuses to come to Christ (Joh 8:24; eg., Mat 27:3-5).
  - Born-again believers 'are being saved' (delivered) from the habit and power of sin,
    which influence us while we dwell in our fleshly bodies (Rom 8:5-13; 2Cor 3:18; Php 2:12,13).
      The Corinthian church, having repented of their tolerance to sin, was delivered from impurity and error, as the Holy Spirit enabled them to address the situation properly.
      Therefore, Paul's strong words had not damaged {harmed, injured} them in any way (v.9), but rather had resulted in their spiritual growth and strengthening. cp. 2Cor 13:8-10
  - Born-again believers 'will be saved' (delivered) from the presence of sin,
    for when our Lord returns, He will complete our change into His likeness,
    making us fit to dwell forever in His Presence (1Cor 15:50-53; 1Pet 1:5; 1Joh 3:1,2).
    For behold what carefulness {diligence} it wrought in you... (v.11)
      Having been chastened by Paul's letter, the Corinthian church had diligently prosecuted the crime and punished the guilty party, according to Paul's instructions. 1Cor 5:3-5; cp. Eph 5:11; 1Tim 5:21,22; Heb 12:15,16
    In all [things] ye have approved {commended, exhibited} yourselves to be clear in this matter.
      They had not only followed Paul's instructions, but also his example, in showing themselves to be true servants of God. cp. 2Cor 6:4
    Wherefore, though I wrote unto you... (v.12)
    ...not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong...
      Although Paul's letter was instrumental in moving the sinful brother to repentance (2Cor 2:5-8), the apostle's primary purpose in writing was neither for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the offended party, but rather to demonstrate the reality of the relationship between Paul and the Corinthian believers.
    ...that our care {diligence} for you in the sight of God might appear {be manifested} unto you.
    (or)..."that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God." [NASB]
      These translation variations are due to a grammatical ambiguity which may be intentional.
      - The Corinthian church needed to know that Paul diligently sought their well-being. 2Cor 2:3,4
      - They also needed to see that their ready response, to the apostle's admonition, confirmed their spiritual connection with Paul (which opportunistic teachers were trying to break). cp. 2Cor 2:9,17
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].
  Because the Corinthian church had responded well to Paul's admonition, everyone was encouraged, as the members of Christ's body worked together to accomplish His purposes (cp. 1Cor 12:26).
  Titus was refreshed {relieved}. Any anxiety, regarding how the church would receive a representative of Paul, was quickly ended.
  Titus rejoiced at their obedience {attentive hearkening, submission} to the apostle's assistant, whom they received "with fear and trembling" (ie., recognizing his spiritual authority and their accountability before God). cp. Eph 6:5; Php 2:12
  Paul rejoiced with renewed confidence that the Corinthian church remained responsive to his instructions. cp. 2Cor 2:9; cp. 2The 3:4

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