2 Corinthians 7

1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.2 Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.3 I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.4 Great 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.5 For 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.6 Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;7 and 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.8 For 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),9 I 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.10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.11 For 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.12 So 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.13 Therefore 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.14 For 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.15 And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.16 I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.

2 Corinthians 7

Self-Purification

1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselvest from everything that could defile the bodyt and the spirit, and thus accomplisht holiness out of reverence for God.t2 Make room for us in your hearts;t we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one,t we have exploited no one.t

3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you befores that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.t

A Letter That Caused Sadness

4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pridet on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement;t I am overflowing with joy in the midst oft all our suffering.5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodyt had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way – struggles from the outside, fears from within.6 But God, who encouragest the downhearted, encouragedt us by the arrival of Titus.7 We were encouragedt not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragementt you gavet him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning,t your deep concernt for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.8 For even if I made you sadt by my letter,s I do not regret having written itt (even though I did regret it,t fors I see that my letter made you sad,t though only for a short time).9 Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad,t but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended,t so that you were not harmedt in any way by us.10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.11 For see what this very thing, this sadnesst as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves,t what indignation,s what alarm, what longing, what deep concern,t what punishment!s In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalft before God.13 Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit.t14 For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you,t but just as everything we said to you was true,t so our boasting to Titus about yout has proved true as well.15 And his affection for you is much greatert when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

16 I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.