2 Corinthians / Chapter 7

2 Corinthians 7

16 verses • SBL Greek New Testament

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Paul resumes the personal appeal interrupted by 6:14-7:1, urging the Corinthians to make room for him in their hearts. He assures them he speaks not to condemn but out of deep affection. Paul then recounts his arrival in Macedonia, where he found no rest until Titus arrived with the good news that the Corinthians had responded to his severe letter with sorrow, longing, and zeal. Paul distinguishes between godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation and worldly sorrow that produces death. The Corinthians' response demonstrated genuine repentance through their earnestness, eagerness, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and justice. Paul concludes by expressing his complete confidence in the Corinthians and his overflowing joy.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

Paul's distinction between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow (vv. 9-11) is one of the most pastorally significant passages in his letters. Godly sorrow (kata theon lypē) produces metanoia — a genuine change of mind and direction — that leads to salvation without regret. Worldly sorrow produces death: it is the remorse that spirals into despair rather than transformation. The seven marks of genuine repentance listed in verse 11 (earnestness, eagerness to clear themselves, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, punishment of wrong) form a comprehensive portrait of what true repentance looks like in a community. The resolution of the Titus narrative (begun in 2:13) in verses 5-7 reveals the emotional vulnerability of the apostle in a way that is unmatched in ancient literature.

Translation Friction

The relationship between 7:2 ('Make room for us in your hearts') and 6:13 ('Widen your hearts also') suggests that 6:14-7:1 may interrupt an originally continuous appeal. We render the text as it stands without rearrangement. The identity of the offender (v. 12) remains debated, as in chapter 2.

Connections

The Titus narrative resumes from 2:13 and completes the suspense created there. The godly sorrow passage connects to Jesus's teaching on repentance and Paul's theology of transformation. Paul's comfort in the midst of affliction echoes the comfort theology of 1:3-7. The expression of confidence anticipates the collection appeal in chapters 8-9.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Ταύτας οὖν ἔχοντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀγαπητοί, καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος, ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ θεοῦ.

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. This verse concludes the separation appeal of 6:14-18. The promises (epangelias) are those quoted in 6:16-18 — God's dwelling, fatherhood, and welcome. Holiness is not merely negative (cleansing from defilement) but positive (epitelountes, 'completing, perfecting'). The phrase 'fear of God' (phobō theou) provides the motivational context for holy living.
2 Corinthians 7:2

Χωρήσατε ἡμᾶς· οὐδένα ἠδικήσαμεν, οὐδένα ἐφθείραμεν, οὐδένα ἐπλεονεκτήσαμεν.

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

KJV Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The imperative chōrēsate ('make room, receive, open up') resumes the appeal of 6:11-13. The triple denial — 'wronged no one, ruined no one, taken advantage of no one' — responds to accusations apparently leveled against Paul, perhaps related to the collection for Jerusalem or his exercise of authority.
2 Corinthians 7:3

πρὸς κατάκρισιν οὐ λέγω· προείρηκα γὰρ ὅτι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν ἐστε εἰς τὸ συναποθανεῖν καὶ συζῆν.

I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

KJV I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The infinitives synapothanein ('to die together') and syzēn ('to live together') express the totality of Paul's bond with the Corinthians — a bond that encompasses both death and life. This echoes the death-and-life theme that pervades the letter (4:10-12; 5:14-15).
2 Corinthians 7:4

πολλή μοι παρρησία πρὸς ὑμᾶς, πολλή μοι καύχησις ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν· πεπλήρωμαι τῇ παρακλήσει, ὑπερπερισσεύομαι τῇ χαρᾷ ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ θλίψει ἡμῶν.

I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Four declarations of abundance: great confidence, great pride, filled with comfort, overflowing with joy. The verb hyperperisseuomai ('I overflow beyond measure') is an intensified form found only here and in Romans 5:20 in the New Testament. The paradox of overflowing joy 'in all our affliction' (epi pasē tē thlipsei) captures the letter's central paradox.
2 Corinthians 7:5

Καὶ γὰρ ἐλθόντων ἡμῶν εἰς Μακεδονίαν οὐδεμίαν ἔσχηκεν ἄνεσιν ἡ σὰρξ ἡμῶν ἀλλ' ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι· ἔξωθεν μάχαι, ἔσωθεν φόβοι.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn — conflicts without, fears within.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. This resumes the narrative from 2:13, where Paul left Troas for Macedonia in search of Titus. The phrase 'our flesh had no rest' (oudemian eschēken anesin hē sarx hēmōn) echoes 2:13 ('my spirit had no rest'). The pair 'conflicts without, fears within' (exōthen machai, esōthen phoboi) reveals both external opposition and internal anxiety.
2 Corinthians 7:6

ἀλλ' ὁ παρακαλῶν τοὺς ταπεινοὺς παρεκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ Τίτου,

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,

KJV Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The title 'God who comforts the downcast' (ho parakalōn tous tapeinous) echoes the comfort theology of 1:3-4 and draws on Isaiah 49:13. The word tapeinous ('lowly, humble, downcast') describes Paul's emotional state without shame — vulnerability before God is the posture that receives comfort.
  2. [TCR Cross-Reference] Quotes Isaiah 49:13. The TCR rendering of that OT passage preserves the Hebrew source text and documents the translation decisions behind it.
2 Corinthians 7:7

οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει ᾗ παρεκλήθη ἐφ' ὑμῖν, ἀναγγέλλων ἡμῖν τὴν ὑμῶν ἐπιπόθησιν, τὸν ὑμῶν ὀδυρμόν, τὸν ὑμῶν ζῆλον ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ὥστε με μᾶλλον χαρῆναι.

Not by his coming only, but by the encouragement by which he was comforted in you, when he informed us your earnest desire, your mourning, your passionate concern toward me. So that I rejoiced the more.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The comfort cascades: God comforts Paul through Titus, who was comforted by the Corinthians. Three responses characterize the Corinthians: longing (epipothēsis — deep desire to see Paul), mourning (odyrmos — grief over the breach), and zeal (zēlos — passionate commitment). This triad demonstrates genuine repentance through relational action.
2 Corinthians 7:8

ὅτι εἰ καὶ ἐλύπησα ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐπιστολῇ, οὐ μεταμέλομαι· εἰ καὶ μετεμελόμην, βλέπω ὅτι ἡ ἐπιστολὴ ἐκείνη εἰ καὶ πρὸς ὥραν ἐλύπησεν ὑμᾶς,

For even if I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it — though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Paul's candor is remarkable: he admits to having initially regretted sending the severe letter (metemelomin, 'I was regretting'), but the Corinthians' positive response has resolved his regret. The temporal qualifier 'for a while' (pros hōran, 'for an hour') indicates that the grief was temporary, not permanent.
2 Corinthians 7:9

νῦν χαίρω, οὐχ ὅτι ἐλυπήθητε ἀλλ' ὅτι ἐλυπήθητε εἰς μετάνοιαν· ἐλυπήθητε γὰρ κατὰ θεόν, ἵνα ἐν μηδενὶ ζημιωθῆτε ἐξ ἡμῶν.

As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

μετάνοια metanoia
"repentance" — repentance, change of mind, turning, conversion

More than regret — metanoia involves a fundamental change of direction, a reorientation of the whole person. It is the positive outcome of godly sorrow, leading to salvation rather than death.

Translator Notes

  1. Paul carefully distinguishes: his joy is not sadistic pleasure in their grief but joy that the grief accomplished its purpose — metanoia ('repentance, change of mind'). The phrase kata theon ('according to God, in a godly manner') qualifies the grief as divinely directed, not merely psychologically painful.
2 Corinthians 7:10

ἡ γὰρ κατὰ θεὸν λύπη μετάνοιαν εἰς σωτηρίαν ἀμεταμέλητον ἐργάζεται· ἡ δὲ τοῦ κόσμου λύπη θάνατον κατεργάζεται.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.

KJV For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. This verse presents one of the most important pastoral distinctions in the New Testament. Godly grief (kata theon lypē) is grief aligned with God's purposes that produces genuine transformation. Worldly grief (tou kosmou lypē) is self-focused remorse that leads to despair and death — Judas being the paradigmatic example (Matthew 27:3-5). The adjective ametamelēton ('without regret, not to be regretted') can modify either 'repentance' or 'salvation'; grammatically it most naturally modifies 'repentance.'
2 Corinthians 7:11

ἰδοὺ γὰρ αὐτὸ τοῦτο τὸ κατὰ θεὸν λυπηθῆναι πόσην κατειργάσατο ὑμῖν σπουδήν, ἀλλ' ἀπολογίαν, ἀλλ' ἀγανάκτησιν, ἀλλὰ φόβον, ἀλλ' ἐπιπόθησιν, ἀλλὰ ζῆλον, ἀλλ' ἐκδίκησιν. ἐν παντὶ συνεστήσατε ἑαυτοὺς ἁγνοὺς εἶναι τῷ πράγματι.

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you — what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment of wrong! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in this matter.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Seven responses demonstrate genuine repentance: (1) spoudēn ('earnestness, diligence'), (2) apologian ('defense, eagerness to clear themselves'), (3) aganaktēsin ('indignation' at the wrong), (4) phobon ('fear' of God's judgment or Paul's authority), (5) epipothēsin ('longing' for Paul), (6) zēlon ('zeal' for righteousness), (7) ekdikēsin ('punishment, vindication'). The repeated alla ('but also, indeed') creates an escalating rhetorical effect.
2 Corinthians 7:12

ἄρα εἰ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, οὐχ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος ἀλλ' ἕνεκεν τοῦ φανερωθῆναι τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.

So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Paul reveals that the severe letter had a deeper purpose than dealing with the specific offense: it was a test of the Corinthians' loyalty and love. The phrase 'in the sight of God' (enōpion tou theou) raises the relational dynamic to a theological level — the community's response to Paul is ultimately a response to God.
2 Corinthians 7:13

διὰ τοῦτο παρακεκλήμεθα. Ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ παρακλήσει ἡμῶν περισσοτέρως μᾶλλον ἐχάρημεν ἐπὶ τῇ χαρᾷ Τίτου, ὅτι ἀναπέπαυται τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων ὑμῶν·

Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The joy multiplies through relational connection: the Corinthians' response comforted Paul, and Titus's joy at their response added even more to Paul's comfort. The verb anapepautai ('has been refreshed, has been given rest') echoes 1 Corinthians 16:18 and indicates that Titus found genuine rest of spirit among the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 7:14

ὅτι εἴ τι αὐτῷ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κεκαύχημαι, οὐ κατῃσχύνθην, ἀλλ' ὡς πάντα ἐν ἀληθείᾳ ἐλαλήσαμεν ὑμῖν, οὕτως καὶ ἡ καύχησις ἡμῶν ἡ ἐπὶ Τίτου ἀλήθεια ἐγενήθη.

For if I made any boast to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved to be true.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Paul had staked his credibility with Titus by boasting about the Corinthians' character. The Corinthians' positive response vindicated Paul's confidence and proved that his boast was not empty but truthful (alētheia egenēthē, 'proved to be truth').
2 Corinthians 7:15

καὶ τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν ἀναμιμνῃσκομένου τὴν πάντων ὑμῶν ὑπακοήν, ὡς μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐδέξασθε αὐτόν.

And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The phrase 'fear and trembling' (meta phobou kai tromou) echoes Philippians 2:12 and indicates reverent seriousness in their reception of Titus as Paul's representative. Titus's deep affection (splanchna, 'gut-level compassion') for the Corinthians grew through the experience of their obedience.
2 Corinthians 7:16

χαίρω ὅτι ἐν παντὶ θαρρῶ ἐν ὑμῖν.

I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

KJV I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chapter ends on a note of unqualified confidence (tharrō, 'I am confident, I take courage') — remarkable given the tensions evident throughout the letter. This positive conclusion prepares the ground for the collection appeal in chapters 8-9, where Paul will leverage this restored relationship for a concrete act of generosity.
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