Text -- 2 Corinthians 7:1-5 (NET)

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.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Co 7:1

¹ tn Or “purify ourselves.”

² tn Grk “from every defilement of the flesh.”

³ tn Grk “accomplishing.” The participle has been translated as a finite verb due to considerations of contemporary English style, and “thus” has been supplied to indicate that it represents a result of the previous cleansing.

⁴ tn Grk “in the fear of God.”

NET Notes: 2Co 7:2

¹ tn The phrase “in your hearts” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

² tn “We have ruined no one” may refer to financial loss (“we have caused no one to suffer financial loss”) but it may also refer to the undermining of faith (“we have corrupted no one’s faith,”). Both options are mentioned in L&N 20.23.

³ tn Or “we have taken advantage of no one.”

NET Notes: 2Co 7:3

¹ sn See 2 Cor 1:4-7.

² tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

NET Notes: 2Co 7:4

¹ tn Grk “great is my boasting.”

² tn Or “comfort.”

³ tn Grk “I am overflowing with joy in all our suffering”; the words “in the midst of” are not in the Greek text but are supplied to clarify that Paul is not rejoicing in the suffering itself, but in his relationship with the Corinthians in the midst of all his suffering.

NET Notes: 2Co 7:5

¹ tn Grk “our flesh.”