American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
2 Corinthians 7
1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Reference
Holy
1 Thessalonians 4:7
Love
1 Peter 2:11
1 Peter 1:22
Parallel theme
Proverbs 8:13
1 John 3:3
References God
James 4:8
Isaiah 55:7
Spirit
Psalm 51:10
1 Thessalonians 5:23
1 Corinthians 6:20
3
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Reference
5
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fights, within were fears.
Reference
6
Nevertheless God, that comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Reference
7
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
Reference
8
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same letter has made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Reference
Repentance
Revelation 3:19
9
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
Reference
Creation
Ecclesiastes 7:3
Parallel theme
Psalm 38:18
Zechariah 12:10
Repentance
Luke 15:7
Acts 20:21
10
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 12:13
Proverbs 17:22
References God
Luke 18:13
Jonah 4:9
1 Samuel 30:6
Repentance
Acts 11:18
Acts 3:19
Luke 15:10
Jonah 3:10
Hebrews 12:17
11
For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it worked in you, yes, what clearing of yourselves, yes, what indignation, yes, what fear, yes, what vehement desire, yes, what zeal, yes, what revenge! In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 2:11
2 Corinthians 7:7
Revelation 3:19
Hebrews 4:1
Acts 17:16
Ephesians 4:26
Ephesians 5:11
Romans 11:20
References God
Romans 14:18
2 Timothy 2:15
12
Why, though I wrote to you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 2:9
2 Corinthians 7:8
2 Corinthians 11:28
References God
1 Timothy 3:5
2 Corinthians 2:17
2 Corinthians 11:11
13
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yes, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
Reference
14
For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
Reference
15
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
Reference
16
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 2:3
Summary of 2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 7 describes the restoration of Paul's relationship with the Corinthians, showing how godly sorrow can lead to genuine repentance and change, as Paul explains that although his earlier letter caused the church pain, he now rejoices because their sorrow produced serious concern, obedience, correction, and renewed love.
Paul begins by returning to the promises mentioned at the end of chapter 6, urging believers to cleanse themselves from moral and spiritual uncleanness and pursue holiness, because those who belong to God should allow their identity as His people to shape the way they live.
He then asks the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and reminds them that he and his coworkers have not taken advantage of them, showing that despite the conflict between them, Paul still loves the church deeply and wants the relationship to be restored rather than permanently damaged.
Paul describes the emotional pressure he experienced in Macedonia, where he faced trouble from outside and fear within, but explains that God comforted him through the arrival of Titus, who brought encouraging news about the Corinthians' response to Paul's earlier letter.
The heart of the chapter is Paul's explanation of godly sorrow.
He does not rejoice simply because the Corinthians became sad after reading his painful words.
Instead, he rejoices because their sorrow led them to repentance and changed behavior, demonstrating that painful correction can have a good purpose when it leads people back toward God.
Paul contrasts godly sorrow with worldly sorrow, explaining that godly sorrow produces repentance and salvation while worldly sorrow can lead to hopelessness and spiritual destruction.
He then lists the visible results of the Corinthians' repentance, including serious concern, a desire to correct the wrong, anger toward wrongdoing, fear, longing, zeal, and action, showing that genuine repentance is demonstrated through changed behavior rather than words alone.
Paul ends with renewed confidence in the Corinthians, explaining that Titus was warmly received by them and that their obedience and humility increased Titus' affection for them.
The chapter therefore concludes with trust replacing suspicion, joy replacing sorrow, and reconciliation replacing conflict, demonstrating that difficult correction can ultimately strengthen relationships when people respond honestly and allow God to change their hearts.
The central message of 2 Corinthians 7 is that godly sorrow can lead to genuine repentance, restored relationships, and spiritual growth when people respond honestly to correction instead of allowing shame or pride to control them.
Paul's approach to the Corinthians shows that correction and love do not have to be opposites.
He had written a painful letter because serious problems needed to be addressed, but he did not write because he hated the Corinthians.
He wrote because he loved them and wanted them to change.
This becomes clear when Paul explains that he initially felt sorrow because his letter had caused them pain, yet he later rejoiced when he learned that the pain had produced repentance.
This distinction between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow is one of the most important teachings in the chapter.
Godly sorrow recognizes that something is wrong and leads a person toward God, repentance, correction, and restored relationships.
Worldly sorrow can focus instead on embarrassment, shame, fear of consequences, or personal failure without producing meaningful change.
The difference is therefore not simply whether someone feels bad.
The important question is what the sorrow produces afterward.
Paul lists several results of the Corinthians' godly sorrow, showing that their repentance was not merely emotional.
They developed serious concern about the situation, wanted to correct what had gone wrong, became angry about wrongdoing, showed fear of continuing in sin, developed a renewed longing for Paul, and demonstrated genuine zeal to make things right.
This teaches that real repentance produces action.
Paul's relationship with Titus also shows how reconciliation can spread beyond the original conflict.
Titus had apparently carried Paul's painful message to Corinth and then returned with encouraging news.
When he saw the Corinthians' changed attitude and their respectful response, he himself was refreshed and developed an even stronger affection for them.
The restoration therefore affected not only Paul and the Corinthians but also the wider network of Christian relationships surrounding them.
Paul's statement that he now has confidence in the Corinthians provides a beautiful conclusion to the chapter.
Earlier chapters revealed serious conflict and uncertainty, but chapter 7 shows that trust can be rebuilt when people respond humbly to correction.
The chapter therefore teaches that healthy Christian relationships require honesty, willingness to receive correction, genuine repentance, forgiveness, changed behavior, and a readiness to rebuild trust after conflict.
Overall, 2 Corinthians 7 presents a hopeful picture of restoration, showing that painful truth can become a source of healing when it leads people away from pride and wrongdoing and toward repentance, obedience, renewed love, and a stronger relationship with God and with one another.
Paul begins by returning to the promises mentioned at the end of chapter 6, urging believers to cleanse themselves from moral and spiritual uncleanness and pursue holiness, because those who belong to God should allow their identity as His people to shape the way they live.
He then asks the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and reminds them that he and his coworkers have not taken advantage of them, showing that despite the conflict between them, Paul still loves the church deeply and wants the relationship to be restored rather than permanently damaged.
Paul describes the emotional pressure he experienced in Macedonia, where he faced trouble from outside and fear within, but explains that God comforted him through the arrival of Titus, who brought encouraging news about the Corinthians' response to Paul's earlier letter.
The heart of the chapter is Paul's explanation of godly sorrow.
He does not rejoice simply because the Corinthians became sad after reading his painful words.
Instead, he rejoices because their sorrow led them to repentance and changed behavior, demonstrating that painful correction can have a good purpose when it leads people back toward God.
Paul contrasts godly sorrow with worldly sorrow, explaining that godly sorrow produces repentance and salvation while worldly sorrow can lead to hopelessness and spiritual destruction.
He then lists the visible results of the Corinthians' repentance, including serious concern, a desire to correct the wrong, anger toward wrongdoing, fear, longing, zeal, and action, showing that genuine repentance is demonstrated through changed behavior rather than words alone.
Paul ends with renewed confidence in the Corinthians, explaining that Titus was warmly received by them and that their obedience and humility increased Titus' affection for them.
The chapter therefore concludes with trust replacing suspicion, joy replacing sorrow, and reconciliation replacing conflict, demonstrating that difficult correction can ultimately strengthen relationships when people respond honestly and allow God to change their hearts.
The central message of 2 Corinthians 7 is that godly sorrow can lead to genuine repentance, restored relationships, and spiritual growth when people respond honestly to correction instead of allowing shame or pride to control them.
Paul's approach to the Corinthians shows that correction and love do not have to be opposites.
He had written a painful letter because serious problems needed to be addressed, but he did not write because he hated the Corinthians.
He wrote because he loved them and wanted them to change.
This becomes clear when Paul explains that he initially felt sorrow because his letter had caused them pain, yet he later rejoiced when he learned that the pain had produced repentance.
This distinction between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow is one of the most important teachings in the chapter.
Godly sorrow recognizes that something is wrong and leads a person toward God, repentance, correction, and restored relationships.
Worldly sorrow can focus instead on embarrassment, shame, fear of consequences, or personal failure without producing meaningful change.
The difference is therefore not simply whether someone feels bad.
The important question is what the sorrow produces afterward.
Paul lists several results of the Corinthians' godly sorrow, showing that their repentance was not merely emotional.
They developed serious concern about the situation, wanted to correct what had gone wrong, became angry about wrongdoing, showed fear of continuing in sin, developed a renewed longing for Paul, and demonstrated genuine zeal to make things right.
This teaches that real repentance produces action.
Paul's relationship with Titus also shows how reconciliation can spread beyond the original conflict.
Titus had apparently carried Paul's painful message to Corinth and then returned with encouraging news.
When he saw the Corinthians' changed attitude and their respectful response, he himself was refreshed and developed an even stronger affection for them.
The restoration therefore affected not only Paul and the Corinthians but also the wider network of Christian relationships surrounding them.
Paul's statement that he now has confidence in the Corinthians provides a beautiful conclusion to the chapter.
Earlier chapters revealed serious conflict and uncertainty, but chapter 7 shows that trust can be rebuilt when people respond humbly to correction.
The chapter therefore teaches that healthy Christian relationships require honesty, willingness to receive correction, genuine repentance, forgiveness, changed behavior, and a readiness to rebuild trust after conflict.
Overall, 2 Corinthians 7 presents a hopeful picture of restoration, showing that painful truth can become a source of healing when it leads people away from pride and wrongdoing and toward repentance, obedience, renewed love, and a stronger relationship with God and with one another.