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Texts -- 2 Corinthians 7:1-16 (NET)

Context
Self-Purification
7:1 Therefore , since we have these promises , dear friends , let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit , and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God . 7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one , we have ruined no one , we have exploited no one . 7:3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.
A Letter That Caused Sadness
7:4 I have great confidence in you ; I take great pride on your behalf . I am filled with encouragement ; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering . 7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia , our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way – struggles from the outside , fears from within . 7:6 But God , who encourages the downhearted , encouraged us by the arrival of Titus . 7:7 We were encouraged not only by his arrival , but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing , your mourning , your deep concern for me , so that I rejoiced more than ever. 7:8 For even if I made you sad by my letter , I do not regret having written it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad , though only for a short time ). 7:9 Now I rejoice , not because you were made sad , but because you were made sad to the point of repentance . For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us . 7:10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation , leaving no regret , but worldly sadness brings about death . 7:11 For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you : what eagerness , what defense of yourselves, what indignation , what alarm , what longing , what deep concern , what punishment ! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter . 7:12 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 behalf before God . 7:13 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 . 7:14 For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you , I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true , so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well. 7:15 And his affection for you is much greater when he remembers the obedience of you all , how you welcomed him with fear and trembling . 7:16 I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Titus

    [ebd] honourable, was with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch, and accompanied them to the council at Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-3; Acts 15:2), although his name nowhere occurs in the Acts of the Apostles. He appears to have been a Gentile, an...
    [isbe] TITUS - ti'-tus (Titos (2 Cor 2:13; 7:6,13 ff; 8:6,16,23; 12:18; Ga1:2:1,3; 2 Tim 4:10; Tit 1:4)): 1. One of Paul's Converts: A Greek Christian, one of Paul's intimate friends, his companion in some of his apostolic journeys...
    [smith] Our materials for the biography of this companion of St. Paul must be drawn entirely from the notices of him in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, the Galatians, and to Titus himself, combined with the Second Epistle to T...
    [nave] TITUS, a Greek companion of Paul. Paul's love for, 2 Cor. 2:13; 7:6, 7, 13, 14; 8:23; Tit. 1:4. With Paul in Macedonia, 2 Cor. 7:5, 6; see postscript to 2 Corinthians. Affection of, for the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 7:15. Sent to...

  • Minister

    [nave] MINISTER, a sacred teacher. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Call of; Character and Qualifications of; Charge Delivered to; Courage of; Duties of; Duties of the Church to; Emoluments of; Faithful, Instanc...

  • Repentance

    [ebd] There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of ...
    [isbe] REPENTANCE - re-pen'-tans: I. OLD TESTAMENT TERMS 1. To Repent--"to Pant," "to Sigh" 2. To Repent--"to Turn" or "Return" II. NEW TESTAMENT TERMS 1. Repent--"to Care," "Be Concerned" 2. Repent--"to Change the Mind" 3. Repent-...
    [nave] REPENTANCE Attributed to God, Gen. 6:6, 7; Ex. 32:14; Deut. 32:36; Judg. 2:18; 1 Sam. 15:11, 29, 35; 2 Sam. 24:16; 1 Chr. 21:15; Psa. 106:45; 110:4; 135:14; Jer. 15:6; 18:8, 10; 26:3; 42:10; Joel 2:13; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9...

  • CORINTHIANS, SECOND EPISTLE TO THE

    [ebd] Shortly after writing his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul left Ephesus, where intense excitement had been aroused against him, the evidence of his great success, and proceeded to Macedonia. Pursuing the usual route, he...
    [isbe] CORINTHIANS, SECOND EPISTLE TO THE - I. TEXT, AUTHENTICITY AND DATE 1. Internal Evidence 2. External Evidence 3. Date II. RESUME OF EVENTS III. THE NEW SITUATION 1. The Offender 2. The False Teachers 3. The Painful Visit 4. ...
    [smith] was written a few months subsequent to the first, in the same year --about the autumn of A.D. 57 or 58 --at Macedonia. The epistle was occasioned by the information which the apostle had received form Titus, and also, as it w...

  • Love

    [nave] LOVE. Of Children for Parents See: Children. Of God See: God, Love of. Of Mankind for God Ex. 20:6 Deut. 5:10. Deut. 6:5; Deut. 7:9; Deut. 10:12; Deut. 11:1; Deut. 13:3; Deut. 30:6 vs. 16,20.; Josh. 22:5 Deut. 11:1, 13...

  • Affections

    [nave] AFFECTIONS Should be supremely set upon God, Deut. 6:5; Mark 12:30. Should be set upon the commandments of God, Psa. 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167; upon the house and worship of God, 1 Chr. 29:3; Psa. 26:8; 27:4; 84:1, 2; upon...

  • Macedonia

    [isbe] MACEDONIA - mas-e-do'-ni-a (Makedonia, ethnic Makedon,): I. THE MACEDONIAN PEOPLE AND LAND II. HISTORY OF MACEDONIA 1. Philip and Alexander 2. Roman Intervention 3. Roman Conquest 4. Macedonia a Roman Province 5. Later Histo...
    [nave] MACEDONIA A country in southeastern Europe. Paul has a vision concerning, Acts 16:9; preaches in, at Philippi, Acts 16:12; revisits, Acts 20:1-6; 2 Cor. 2:13; 7:5. Church at, sends contributions to the poor in Jerusalem, Ro...

  • Joy

    [isbe] JOY - joi (simchah; chara): 1. Terms: The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1 Sam 18:6, etc.), variously translated ...
    [nave] JOY Attributed to God, Deut. 28:63; 30:9; Jer. 32:41. In heaven, Luke 15:10-32. See: Shouting. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to Deut. 12:18; 1 Sam. 2:1; 1 Chr. 16:27; 2 Chr. 7:10; Ezra 6:22; Neh. 8:10, 12; Neh. 12:43;...

  • Zeal

    [ebd] an earnest temper; may be enlightened (Num. 25:11-13; 2 Cor. 7:11; 9:2), or ignorant and misdirected (Rom. 10:2; Phil. 3:6). As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Gal. 4:18...
    [nave] ZEAL, Religious Josh. 24:15, 16; 2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 1 Kin. 9:4; 1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 19:3; Ezra 7:23; Job 16:19; Psa. 42:1, 2; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 96:2, 3, 10; Psa. 119:139; Prov. 11:30; Eccl. 9:10; ...

  • Sorrow

    [isbe] SORROW - sor'-o (chebhel, yaghon, makh'obh, etc.; lupe): The Old Testament has very many words translated "sorrow," those named being the most frequent; in the New Testament "sorrow" is usually the translation of lupe (Lk 22...
    [nave] SORROW God takes notice of Hagar's, Gen. 21:17-20; Israelites, Ex. 3:7-10. For sin, 2 Cor. 7:10, 11. See: Repentance; Sin, Confession of. No sorrow in heaven, Rev. 21:4. "Sorrow and sighing shall flee away,'' Isa. 35:10....

  • CORINTH

    [isbe] CORINTH - kor'-inth (Korinthos, "ornament"): A celebrated city of the Peloponnesus, capital of Corinthia, which lay North of Argolis, and with the isthmus joined the peninsula to the mainland. Corinth had three good harbors ...

  • Afflictions and Adversities

    [nave] AFFLICTIONS AND ADVERSITIES. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Benefits of; Benefits of, Illustrated; Consolation in; Deliverance from; Design of; Despondency in; Dispe...

  • War

    [nave] WAR Divine approval of, 2 Sam. 22:35. Civil, Judg. 12:1-6; 20; 2 Sam. 2:12-31; 3:1; 20; 1 Kin. 14:30; 16:21; Isa. 19:2; forbidden, 2 Chr. 11:4; averted, Josh. 22:11-34. Enemy harangued by general of opposing side, 2 Kin. 1...

  • PHILIPPI

    [isbe] PHILIPPI - fi-lip'-i (Philippoi, ethnic Philippesios, Phil 4:15): 1. Position and Name: A city of Macedonia, situated in 41ø 5' North latitude and 24ø 16' East longitude. It lay on the Egnatian Road, 33 Roman miles fro...

  • Righteousness

    [nave] RIGHTEOUSNESS By faith, Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 20, 22, 24. Garment of, Job 29:14; Matt. 22:11-14. Imputed on account of obedience, Deut. 6:25; Job 33:26. Fruits of Deut. 6:25; Josh. 22:31; Psa. 1:3; Psa. 15:1...

  • PAROUSIA

    [isbe] PAROUSIA - pa-roo'-zhi-a: I. THE APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE 1. Terms 2. Data and Sources 3. Consistency 4. Meaning of the Symbolism II. THE TEACHING OF JESUS 1. Critical Problems 2. Summary 3. Fall of Jerusalem 4. Time III. JOHN'S E...

  • Holiness

    [ebd] in the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1...
    [nave] HOLINESS. Gen. 17:1; Gen. 35:2; Ex. 19:6; Ex. 22:31; Ex. 39:30 Ex. 28:36. Lev. 10:8-10; Lev. 11:44, 45 [Lev. 19:2; 20:7.] Lev. 11:47; Lev. 20:26; Deut. 13:17; Deut. 14:2 Deut. 26:19. Deut. 18:13; Deut. 28:9; Deut. 30:2, 10;...

  • Church

    [isbe] CHURCH - church: I. PRE-CHRISTIAN HISTORY OF THE TERM II. ITS ADOPTION BY JESUS III. ITS USE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. In the Gospels 2. In Acts 3. In the Pauline Epistles IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH 1. Faith 2. Fellowship 3. ...
    [nave] CHURCH, the collective body of believers. Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics Called in the O.T., The Congregation, Ex. 12:3, 6, 19, 47; 16:1, 2, 9, 10, 22; Lev. 4:13, 15; 10:17; 24:14. Called in the N.T., Church, Matt. 16:18; ...

  • CARE; CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL

    [isbe] CARE; CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL - kar, kar'-fool-ness, kar'-fool: The English word "care" has such a variety of meanings, and so many Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible are translated by this English expression and its compounds...

  • Fear of God

    [nave] FEAR OF GOD. Reverence Gen. 35:5; Ex. 18:21; Ex. 20:18-20; Lev. 22:32; Deut. 4:10; Deut. 5:29; Deut. 6:2; Deut. 10:12, 20, 21 Deut. 6:13; 13:4; 14:23. Deut. 28:49, 58; Josh. 4:24; Josh. 24:14; 1 Sam. 2:30; 1 Sam. 12:14, 24...
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Arts

Questions

  • Grace is inactive without our will, hence the order as to "work." "Fear and trembling"(Phil. 2:12) simply mean the holy reverence which accompanies obedience (see Eph. 6:5; I Cor. 2:3; II Cor. 7:15); not slavish fear, like th...
  • Emotions run high and opinions vary widely on this issue, but I'll share my convictions on this issue. The word "repent" has to be understood within the context in which it is being used. In fact, very often, it should not e...
  • Some may ask: "Has God forgotten all about my sins now that they are forgiven, and if so why do we not forget?" God says in Is. 43:25 and Jer. 31:34 that he will not remember our transgressions. The sense of "remember" in the...
  • The only way out of any form of spiritual darkness is a firm faith in Christ. Spiritual darkness always means that in some way or other we are doubting him. We are often tempted to think that something else is necessary to be...

Sermon Illustrations

A Definition; 2 Corinthians 7:10; True Repentance; From the Lord; Guidelines for Managers and Others in Authority; Separation from the Unclean Thing; Washing Your Hand; Why Evangelize?

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The priests and the kings in Israel were responsible for justice in the nation (cf. Deut. 17:9; 2 Sam. 15:2-3), though neither group could prevent wickedness from proliferating. The sixth and seventh visions deal with the rem...
  • 24:1 The connective "and"(NASB, Gr. kai) ties what follows to Jesus' preceding denunciation of the generation of Jews that rejected Him and the divine judgment that would follow (23:36-39). However the "apocalyptic"or "eschat...
  • The following incident throws more light on the spiritual darkness that enveloped Ephesus as well as the power of Jesus Christ and the gospel.19:13 "But"introduces a contrast to the good miracles that "God was performing . . ...
  • This pericope gives the reason for what follows in the remainder of Acts.19:21 Paul evidently sensed that having laid a firm foundation in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea region he needed to press on to Gentile areas yet unreac...
  • "This report of Paul's return visit to Macedonia and Achaia is the briefest account of an extended ministry in all of Acts--even more so than the summary of the ministry at Ephesus (cf. 19:8-12). Nevertheless, it can be fille...
  • Sequence of Paul's ActivitiesDateEventReferenceBirth in TarsusActs 22:3Early life and theological education in Jerusalem under GamalielActs 22:334Participation in Stephen's stoning outside JerusalemActs 7:57-8:134Leadership i...
  • Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 12 deal with the Christian's most important relationship, his or her relationship to God. These verses are both parallel to the sections to follow that deal with the Christian's conduct, and they int...
  • Sequence of Paul's ActivitiesDateEventReferenceBirth in TarsusActs 22:3Early life and theological education in Jerusalem under GamalielActs 22:334Participation in Stephen's stoning outside JerusalemActs 7:57-8:134Leadership i...
  • As the preceding verse revealed, Paul's plans were tentative to some extent. He wanted the Corinthians to know that he anticipated a return to Corinth and hopefully a stay of several months. Timothy and Apollos might return t...
  • First Corinthians did not dispel the problems in the church at Corinth completely. While it resolved some of these, opposition to the Apostle Paul persisted and Paul's critics continued to speak out against him in the church....
  • I. Introduction 1:1-11A. Salutation 1:1-2B. Thanksgiving for comfort in affliction 1:3-111. Thanksgiving for comfort 1:3-72. Thanksgiving for deliverance 1:8-11II. Answers to insinuations about the sincerity of Paul's commitm...
  • Having claimed singleness of purpose in his dealings with the Corinthians, Paul proceeded to help them appreciate the fact that his behavior had been consistent with his Spirit-led purposes."Long-range plans may need to be mo...
  • 1:23 Paul's use of an oath should not disturb us."Our Lord's prohibition of swearing in Matt. 5:33ff. is directed against the casuistry that was prevalent among the Jews of His time, in accordance with which not only was swea...
  • The reason Paul included the information in these transitional verses appears to have been to help his readers appreciate his anxious concern for their welfare, which Titus was to report to him. It was further to explain the ...
  • "The passage that follows (2:14-7:4) is the longest coherent section within 2 Corinthians and is, arguably, the centerpiece of the entire letter. Nonetheless, it is not freestanding, but continuous with what precedes it."109P...
  • "If the keyword in vv. 7-11 is glory,' the keyword for vv. 12-18, of which vv. 12-15 form the first part, is veil'; veil'-related words occur six times in these verses."1283:12 The hope to which Paul referred was the confiden...
  • 4:1 Paul now returned to the theme of being a minister of the New Covenant (3:6). Since we have a ministry in which the Spirit opens people's eyes and transforms their characters we can feel encouraged. Our job is not simply ...
  • This section and the first two verses of chapter 6 constitute the crux of Paul's exposition of the apostolic office (2:14-7:4) and of the entire letter.1895:18-19 The basis of this total change (new attitudes, v. 16, and new ...
  • 6:1 Since God appeals to the unsaved through heralds of the gospel (5:20), the herald is in that sense a partner with God in His work of bringing people into final reconciliation.198Evangelism is a joint effort of the Lord an...
  • The Corinthians had a tendency to respond to Paul's teachings by first resisting them and then going overboard in applying them inappropriately. They had done this in dealing with the incestuous man (1 Cor. 5). Consequently P...
  • 7:2 Paul returned to his appeal for the Corinthians' full affection (6:11-13) claiming no fault toward the Corinthians on three counts (v. 2). He had done no wrong to anyone, had not led anyone astray, nor had he deceived any...
  • Paul returned to the subject of his meeting Titus in Macedonia (2:13), which he had left to expound new covenant ministry (2:14-6:10) and to urge acceptance of his ministry (6:11-7:4).7:5 When he had arrived in Macedonia Paul...
  • 7:13b-14 Titus, who had observed the Corinthians' repentance, had increased Paul's joy further by reporting that to him. Paul's words of praise for his readers before he had sent Titus to them had proved worthy in view of the...
  • The New Testament reveals that Paul was actively collecting money for "the poor among the saints in Jerusalem"(Rom. 15:26) for about five years (52-57 A.D.). He solicited funds from the Christians in Galatia (Acts 18:23; 1 Co...
  • 12:14-15 Paul was about to return to Corinth another time, his "anticipated visit."283When he came, he planned to continue his same financial policy with them; he would remain financially independent of them (cf. 1 Cor. 9:15;...
  • 13:11 Obedience to five commands would result in one condition that Paul wanted his readers to express in a particular practice.1. They were to rejoice, probably because they had the opportunity to judge themselves before God...
  • Paul related other events of his previous ministry, specifically his meeting with the Jerusalem church leaders. He did so to establish for his readers that although he was not dependent on anyone but God for his message and m...
  • Paul may have visited Crete more than once. It seems unlikely that he would have had time to plant a church in Crete on his way to Rome as a prisoner (Acts 27:7-13, 21). One may have already been in existence then (cf. Acts 2...
  • This pericope has strong ties to what precedes (16:17-18:24). It is the concluding revelation concerning the fall of Babylon, the latter-day Egypt and Tyre, and Antichrist, the ultimate Pharaoh of the Exodus and King of Tyre....

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 Cor. 7:1.IT is often made a charge against professing Christians that their re...
  • Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.'--2 Cor. 7:10.VERY near the close of his missionary career the Apostle Paul summed up his preaching as being all d...
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