Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 7

Verse 1

2Co 7:1. These promises are the ones mentioned in the last two verses of the preceding chapter. The prospect of such favors from God should be a sufficient motive for all Christians to do their utmost to obtain them. Since our bodies are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26 Gen 5:1-2), then a spirit for man was formed within him (Zec 12:1), he should wish to keep that body and spirit clean both physically and spiritually. Filthiness is from MOLUSMOS, which is not used in any other place in the Greek New Testament. Thayer defines it by the single word "defilement," then explains it to mean "an action by which any thing is defiled." Since this is the only passage where the word is found, we know that by "anything" the author of the lexicon includes both the flesh and spirit of man. In its application to Christians today, therefore, it would include all false religious teaching, which defiles the spirit, and also that which defiles the body, such as narcotics, opiates and alcohol, when used as a habit. Holiness is commanded here and elsewhere (Heb 12:14), therefore we know it is something that can be accomplished today. The word has been perverted by false teachers, and made to mean something of a supernatural or special attainment, that requires a direct operation of the Lord upon the heart of the disciple after he has come into the church. The term is from five different Greek words in the New Testament, but all of them have virtually the same meaning, which is that relation and practice of a Christian that makes him separate from the worldly life of sin. It has the same meaning as the words "righteousness" and "godliness," and all other terms in the New Testament that are applied to Christians.

Verse 2

Verse 2. Receive us is said in the same sense as chapter 6:12, 13. The three denials of the verse refer to the severe rebukes that the apostle had given them previously; that in so doing he had not done them any injustice.

Verse 3

2Co 7:3. Speak not to condemn. Paul knew that some of the Judaizers had accused him of such treatment toward the Corinthian church, but he was not making the application to all of them. Said before refers to the passage cited in the preceding paragraph.

Verse 4

2Co 7:4. Paul felt bold in the sense of being greatly encouraged because of the attitude of the Corinthian church toward his former epistle. It gave him joy and comfort notwithstanding the many tribulations he was suffering for the Gospel.

Verse 5

2Co 7:5. Flesh had no rest denotes that his discomfort was from the standpoint of his temporal feelings, not that his spiritual state of mind was disturbed. (See the comments at chapter 2:12, 13.) The fightings were the conflicts with visible enemies, and the fears were from his anxiety over the situation at Corinth.

Verse 6

2Co 7:6. God uses various means to comfort His faithful children. In this case it was done by sending Titus to Paul with the good news of the attitude Of the Corinthian brethren toward the first epistle.

Verse 7

2Co 7:7. Paul was not selfish in his enjoyment of good news. He found joy in seeing that Titus also was comforted over the good state of the church at Corinth. Earnest desire indicates they wish to do their duty. Mourning refers to their sincere sorrow over their wrong in the matter of the fornicator. Fervent mind toward me denotes a kindly feeling toward Paul, even though he had rebuked them sharply.

Verse 8

2Co 7:8. A loving parent would regret the necessity of punishing his child, but would not regret having done so. That would be especially true if the punishment produced the desired results. That is the meaning of this verse, for the first epistle caused the Corinthians to be genuinely sorry for their wrongs.

Verse 9

2Co 7:9. The mere fact that they were made sorry did not cause Paul'srejoicing, but their sorrow was the kind that caused them to repent. After a godly manner means their sorrow was the kind that pleased God; hence the letter from Paul had not damaged them in any way, but rather had bene-fitted them.

Verse 10

2Co 7:10. Mere sorrow for sin will not cause one to repent, for he may only be sorry he was detected and punished. But if he is sorry for his sin because it is offensive to God, it will cause him to do what he can to make himself right. Such a sorrow is not to be repented of, which means it is not to be regretted. To be sorry only because of being taken in sin is a sorrow of the world, and such a state of mind worketh death, as it did in the case of Judas whose worldly sorrow brought him both physical and spiritual death. (See Mat 27:3-5; Joh 17:12; Act 1:25.)

Verse 11

2Co 7:11. In the preceding verse the apostle makes only a general reference to the good effect that will be produced by godly sorrow, but in this he specifies a number of fruits of such sorrow. Carefulness means concern and diligence in attending to their duty. Clearing of yourselves all comes from APOLOGIA, and Thayer's definition is, "verbal defence, speech in defence." Such a speech would be called for only where one is accused of wrongdoing, whether guilty or not. The Corinthians were guilty of wrong in the case of the fornicator, and only by doing their duty could they be able to make their defence. Indignation was felt by them when they were made to realize the guilt of the man they had been tolerating in their fellowship. Fear means respect for the Lord, and concern over what might result were they not to deal with the guilty man as they should. Zeal is virtually the same in effect as carefulness used above. Revenge means punishment of the guilty man by the proper act of discipline. Rom 12:19 says that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and when a church inflicts scriptural discipline on a guilty member, it is the Lord's way of administering vengeance upon him. To be clear means to be "pure from every fault" according to Thayer. If a congregation fails to exercise corrective discipline upon a guilty member, his guilt becomes that of the congregation also.

Verse 12

2Co 7:12. The fornicator at Corinth, and the man whose wife he was wrongfully using, were not the only ones concerned in the sad affair. In 1 Co- rinthians 5:6 it is declared that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," which refers to this case, and shows that the whole church was affected by the case. Paul wished the brethren to know he had much care on their behalf and hence urged them to do their duty.

Verse 13

2Co 7:13. Paul found joy in seeing Titus comforted (verse 7), now he has joy over that of the Corinthians, also rejoices that Titus is refreshed or encouraged.

Verse 14

2Co 7:14. Paul had boasted (spoken words of commendation) of the merits of the church at Corinth, even before the developments were completed. Now he is not ashamed (has no regrets) since his praise of them has been proven true.

Verse 15

2Co 7:15. Actual obedience is more important than mere professions of agreement. The Corinthians not only showed a friendly attitude toward the epistle of Paul (sent to them by Titus), but confirmed It by doing their duty, and this was also accompanied with friendliness to Titus for having brought the message to them.

Verse 16

2Co 7:16. Confidence in our brethren is helpful in the struggle against the common enemy, for it strengthens our faith to see that the Gospel has its influence for good upon others.