2 Corinthians 7:5

Contextual Overview

⁵For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.⁵ For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. ⁵ For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.⁵For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side—conflicts without, fears within. ⁵When we rode into Macedonia, it was constant mayhem. We were attacked from every direction. The battle against evil on the outside wasn't any harder than the battle against fear on the inside. ⁵ For even when we had come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; there were fightings outside and fears inside. ⁵ For indeed, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but [we were] afflicted in every way; without combats, within fears. ⁵ In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears inside. ⁵ For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. ⁵ For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: from without were fightings, from within were fears.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: 2 Corinthians 1:16, 2 Corinthians 1:17, 2 Corinthians 2:13, Acts 20:1, 1 Corinthians 16:5

our: 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, 2 Corinthians 11:23-30, Genesis 8:9, Isaiah 33:12, Jeremiah 8:18, Jeremiah 45:3, Matthew 11:28-30

troubled: 2 Corinthians 4:8, Job 18:11, Jeremiah 6:25, Jeremiah 20:10

without: Deuteronomy 32:25, 1 Corinthians 15:31

fears: 2 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 11:29, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 4:11, Galatians 4:19, Galatians 4:20, 1 Thessalonians 3:5

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 27:1 - And David 1 Samuel 30:6 - was greatly Job 29:25 - one that Psalms 34:4 - from Psalms 56:3 - General Isaiah 51:12 - am he Jeremiah 49:29 - Fear Acts 16:9 - Macedonia Acts 20:3 - the Jews Acts 20:19 - with all Acts 28:15 - he thanked Romans 8:23 - even we 1 Corinthians 2:3 - General 1 Thessalonians 3:6 - and brought

Cross-References

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Genesis 6:22
Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 6:22
Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 6:22
Noah therfore dyd according vnto all that God commaunded hym [euen] so dyd he.

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything God commanded him.

Genesis 6:22
Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Genesis 6:22
Therfor Noe dide alle thingis whiche God comaundide to hym.

Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For when we were come into Macedonia,.... Whither Paul went in quest of Titus, not finding him at Troas, 2 Corinthians 2:12 and where he met with him, and had the agreeable account from him of the state of this church; but here, as elsewhere, they had their troubles:

our flesh had no rest; that is, their outward man, their bodies; they were continually fatigued with preaching, disputing, fighting; what with false teachers, and violent persecutors, they had no rest in their bodies; though, in their souls, they had divine support and spiritual consolation; and it was no small addition to their joy to hear of the flourishing condition of this church:

but were troubled on every side; from every quarter, by all sorts of enemies; see 2 Corinthians 4:8.

Without were fightings, within were fears; there seems to be an allusion to Deuteronomy 32:25. They had continual combats with false teachers, and furious persecutors, without the church, or in the world, or in their bodies; and within the church, or in themselves, in their own minds, had many fears, lest any should be discouraged by the violence of persecutions, or be drawn aside by the doctrines of the false apostles: and as it was with the apostles in these respects, so it is with private believers: without are fightings; their outward conversation in this life is a warfare; partly with false teachers, with whom they fight the "good fight of faith", contend for the doctrine of faith, using the spiritual weapons of the Scriptures of truth; and partly with the men of the world, to whose rage and contempt they are exposed, and among whom they endure a great fight of afflictions, with patience, and in the exercise of faith, whereby they gain the victory over the world and partly with Satan, their avowed adversary, and implacable enemy, against whom they wrestle in the strength of Christ, making use of the whole armour God provided for them, by the help of which, through divine grace, they come off more than conquerors; and partly with the lusts and corruptions, or open prevailing iniquities which are in the world, to which they oppose themselves, and, by the power of God keeping them, are preserved from: not that their only fightings are thus without; for there is, as it were, a company of two armies within them, sin and grace, flesh and spirit, opposing each other: and hence, as well as from other causes, are "fears within"; about their interest in everlasting love, electing grace, and the covenant of grace; about the presence of God with them, and the truth of grace in them; about their interest in Christ, their sonship, their final perseverance, and enjoyment of the heavenly glory: and though these fears are not their excellencies, but their infirmities, yet this will be more or less their case, till that state takes place, when there will be no more fightings, no more fears.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For when we were come into Macedonia - For the reasons which induced Paul to go into Macedonia; see the notes on 2 Corinthians 1:16; compare the notes, 2 Corinthians 2:12-13.

Our flesh had no rest - We were exceedingly distressed and agitated. We had no rest. The causes of his distress he immediately states.

But we were troubled on every side - In every way. We had no rest in any quarter. We were obliged to enter into harassing labors and strifes there, and we were full of anxiety in regard to you.

Without were fightings - Probably he here refers to fierce opposition, which he met with in prosecuting his work of preaching the gospel. He met there, as he did everywhere, with opposition from Pagans, Jews, and false brethren. Tumults were usually excited wherever he went; and he preached the gospel commonly amidst violent opposition.

Within were fears - Referring probably to the anxiety which he had in regard to the success of the Epistle which he had sent to the church at Corinth. He felt great solicitude on the subject. He had sent Titus there to see what was the state of the church and to witness the effect of his instructions. Titus had not come to him as he had expected, at Troas 2 Corinthians 2:13, and he felt the deepest anxiety in regard to him and to the success of his Epistle. His fears were probably that they would be indisposed to exercise the discipline on the offender; or lest the severity of the discipline required should alienate them from him; or lest the party under the influence of the false teachers should prevail. All was uncertainty, and his mind was filled with the deepest apprehension.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 7:5. When we were come into Macedonia — St. Paul, having left Ephesus, came to Troas, where he stopped some time; afterwards he came to Macedonia, whence he wrote this epistle,

Our flesh had no rest — So exceedingly anxious was he to know the success of his first epistle to them.

Without were fightings — The oppositions of pagans, Jews, and false brethren.

Within were fears. — Uncertain conjectures relative to the success of his epistle; fears lest the severity of it should alienate their affections utterly from him; fears lest the party of the incestuous person should have prevailed; fears lest the teaching of the false apostle should have perverted their minds from the simplicity of the truth; all was uncertainty, all apprehension; and the Spirit of God did not think proper to remove the causes of these apprehensions in any extraordinary way.