Paul’s Joy at the Corinthians’ Repentance

Therefore since we[a] have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, accomplishing holiness in the fear of God. Make room for us in your hearts[b]. We have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have defrauded no one. I do not say this to condemn you[c], because I have already said that you are in our hearts, so that we die together and we live together. Great is my confidence toward you; great is my boasting on your behalf; I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

For even when[d] we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—quarrels outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, because he[e] reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. For if indeed I grieved you by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it (I see[f] that that letter grieved you, even though for a short time[g]), now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to the will of God, so that you suffered loss in no way through us. 10 For grief according to the will of God brings about a repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but worldly grief brings about death. 11 For behold how much diligence this very thing, being grieved according to the will of God, has brought about in you: what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! In everything you have demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 Consequently, even if I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong or because of the one who had been wronged, but in order that your diligence on our behalf[h] might be revealed to you before God. 13 Because of this we have been encouraged, and in addition to our encouragement, we rejoiced much more over the joy of Titus, because his spirit had been refreshed by all of you. 14 For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I have not been put to shame, but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, thus also our boasting to Titus has proven to be true[i]. 15 And his affection for you is all the more when he[j] remembers the obedience of all of you as you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because in everything I am completely confident in you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:2 Literally “make room for us”
  3. 2 Corinthians 7:3 Literally “for condemnation”
  4. 2 Corinthians 7:5 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”)
  5. 2 Corinthians 7:7 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“reported”) which is understood as causal
  6. 2 Corinthians 7:8 Some manuscripts have “for I see”
  7. 2 Corinthians 7:8 Literally “an hour”
  8. 2 Corinthians 7:12 Literally “on behalf of us”
  9. 2 Corinthians 7:14 Literally “has become truth”
  10. 2 Corinthians 7:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“remembers”) which is understood as temporal

Therefore, since we have these promises,(A) dear friends,(B) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(C) out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

Make room for us in your hearts.(D) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(E) that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(F) I am greatly encouraged;(G) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(H)

For when we came into Macedonia,(I) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(J)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(K) But God, who comforts the downcast,(L) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(M) and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,(N) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(O) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,(P) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you,(Q) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong(R) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus(S) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you,(T) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus(U) has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,(V) receiving him with fear and trembling.(W) 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.(X)