Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does 2nd Corinthians Chapter 7 mean?

The first verse of this chapter—chapter divisions were not part of the original writing—concludes Paul’s teaching from the previous chapter. That discussion was about not being “yoked” or harnessed to unbelievers in binding relationships, especially when it comes to issues of idol worship. In short, Christians should cleanse themselves from every physical and spiritual thing that is opposed to God. In that way, believers participate with God in completing His work of bringing them to holiness. (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Paul begins the main theme of this chapter by returning to his plea with the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers for the gospel. He declares again their innocence from any false accusations that they have wronged, corrupted, or taken advantage of those they minister to in Christ’s name. Paul is quick to say, though, that he is not condemning the Corinthians. He has so much affection for them that he is ready to both die with or live with them (2 Corinthians 7:2–3).

The reason for his abundant affection is that he has heard back from Titus about their response to his letter of rebuke to them. That has given him great boldness to write to them in this way, because he has been so comforted by Titus’ report of his time with the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 7:4–9).

Paul picks up the thread of a story he left hanging in chapter 2. After a difficult visit with the Corinthians, Paul had written a severe letter of rebuke to them. They had either sided with a man among them in the church against Paul or they had simply not responded to this man’s opposition to Paul, who represented Christ. Paul corrected them and instructed them to discipline the man (2 Corinthians 2:3–10).

He gave this difficult letter, now lost to us, to Titus to deliver to the church in Corinth. Then he waited, not sure how they would respond. Would they get angry and reject his role as an apostle of Jesus? Would they be unkind to Titus in their anger? Paul’s concern grew when Titus failed to appear at an arranged meeting in Troas. Paul returned to Macedonia and faced even more affliction.

Finally, though, Titus arrived with news from Corinth. They had received Paul’s letter with great sorrow that provoked them to repentance—as godly grief over sin always does. The Corinthians did punish the man for his sin and eagerly did everything they could to make things right between Paul and themselves. Paul’s relief at this news is obvious in this chapter. He rejoices still more that Titus was so impressed and encouraged by the Corinthians’ obedience and humility (2 Corinthians 7:11–16).

The chapter concludes with Paul’s declaration that he now has complete confidence in the Corinthians. Still, there will be difficult issues to discuss in the following chapters.

Chapter Context
Second Corinthians 7 begins with a single verse concluding Paul’s teaching about what it means for Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. He then urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his fellow ministers. He expresses enormous comfort at hearing that they have received a letter of rebuke from him with an eagerness to make things right with him. Titus, too, is impressed with their obedience and humility. Paul declares that he now has complete confidence in them. Following chapters will continue to address spiritual problems within that church.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul begins by referencing “these promises” possessed by those who are in Christ. He has just referenced several Old Testament Scriptures connecting God’s promises to the Israelites with their obedience at separating from ungodly nations and unclean things. Some of God’s promises to Israel depended on the Israelites’ willingness and ability to obey God in this way. This was the structure of the old covenant.

Under the new covenant, however, are God’s promises to live with those who are in Christ, to be their Father, and to welcome them into His presence forever. These are not dependent on the believer’s ability to obey; they are dependent only on Christ. Paul wrote at the beginning of this letter, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

In other words, to have God’s promises in Christ is to have them securely. How should believers respond to rock-solid promises from the God who does not lie? We must clean ourselves up in both body and spirit. Since God lives in believers right now in the Holy Spirit, Christians must remove from their lives anything that is in any way opposed to God. For the Corinthians, who lived in a culture that had normalized idol worship, this included removing any and every connection to the worship of idols or false gods.

This ongoing process of cleansing our lives from things that opposed to God is how a believer participates with God in “bringing holiness to completion.” God is the one who sets a believer aside as His, as holy, as set apart for His purposes. He does that for all who come to Him through faith in Christ and He begins the process of making that person new in the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul wrote that God will also finish this work in every believer (1 Corinthians 1:8). Christians, though, must participate by obeying God’s commands to set aside every disobedience “in the fear of the Lord.” That fear is about great respect for God’s power and righteousness. It’s also about carrying an awareness that Christ will judge the works of every believer when He returns, not to decide that person’s eternal destiny but to give to him or her what is due for how they lived as believers (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Verse 2. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

This passage returns to Paul’s plea, made in the previous chapter, that the Corinthians widen or open their hearts to him and his fellow workers again (2 Corinthians 6:13). He understands they have lost the affection they once had for him. This may have been because of his previous rebukes of their wrong belief or behavior. Or it may have been because of the false teachers among them who had been attacking Paul’s character and accusing him of being a false apostle.

Paul insists one more time that he and his co-workers for the gospel are innocent of any wrongdoing. They have acted only with integrity. They haven’t wronged, corrupted, or taken advantage of anyone. These declarations from Paul may show what kinds of accusations were being made against him. Perhaps some were saying he was secretly working only for his own personal gain. He has shown this is simply untrue and now declares it again.

Context Summary
Second Corinthians 7:2–16 begins with Paul urging the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers for the gospel. He then describes the great affliction they were under until Titus returned from a visit to Corinth. Titus’ report that the Corinthians had responded to a severe rebuke from Paul with sadness and repentance brought Paul great comfort and caused him to rejoice. Titus, too, expressed affection for the Corinthians after seeing their obedience and humility. Paul concludes by declaring his complete confidence in the Corinthians, though he will discuss other difficult issues in the following chapters.

Verse 3. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

Paul has returned to defending and commending himself to the Corinthians. In the previous verse, he urged them to make room in their hearts for him again. He appears to be answering accusations against his character, declaring that he has not wronged, corrupted, or taken advantage of anyone. Most likely, these slanders came from false teachers, or those bitter over being called out for living in sin by Paul’s earlier letters.

The point of this response is not to make reverse accusations against anyone. Paul is not writing to condemn the Corinthians or demand an ultimatum to get back in his good graces. He repeats again that they are still in his heart. He still loves them and feels great affection for them. He still considers himself to belong with them. He is ready, in fact, to die with them and live with them. In other words, Paul is not rejecting the Corinthians for their partial rejection of him. He wants to be reunited with them in mutual affection.

Verse 4. I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

This second preserved letter to the Corinthians turns a corner in this verse. Paul has just been asking the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him again. He insists he is innocent from any wrongdoing against them. He has made clear, though, that he is not writing to condemn them. He still feels great affection for them.

Now he begins to describe just how positive his feelings are for them. He is writing with great boldness, and not because he is ashamed or disappointed in them. The opposite is true. Paul declares the great pride he still takes in them. The following verse helps to explain why he now says that, in fact, he is filled with comfort and overflowing with joy despite all the affliction he and his friends have experienced.

Paul is returning to a story he set aside earlier in this letter (2 Corinthians 2:13). The sequence of events is this: His last visit with the Corinthians had been a painful one. An apparently influential man had been guilty of sin. After leaving them, Paul had written a difficult letter instructing them to hold this man accountable for his sin. Would they choose Paul or this sinful man? Paul did not want to return to see them until he heard how things went, so he sent Titus with that letter. The text of that message has not been preserved. Paul and arranged to meet Titus in Troas with their response. However, when Paul arrived in Troas, Titus was not there. Paul moved on to Macedonia to wait for him.

Now Paul is beginning to describe his great relief and joy at what he finally did hear from Titus about the Corinthians’ response to his letter. He was comforted. They had chosen to do what was right.

Verse 5. For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn — fighting without and fear within.

Paul is returning to a story he left off suddenly earlier in this letter (2 Corinthians 2:13). The story is this: He had sent Titus with a difficult, corrective letter he had written to the Corinthians. He instructed them to hold an influential man among them accountable for his sin. The letter, which is now lost to us, may have been harsh. Paul waited anxiously to hear how they would respond.

However, Titus wasn’t in Troas when Paul arrived there to meet with him after the trip to Corinth. This troubled Paul deeply and he returned to Macedonia. Now Paul picks up the story. When he and his co-workers got back to Macedonia, things did not improve for them. Both physically and emotionally, they continued to struggle. They could not rest. They were afflicted with trouble, which included fighting of some kind and fear. Some of this was likely fueled by Paul’s concern for Titus and wanting to know how the Corinthians had responded to his letter. Apparently, he was also experiencing additional opposition.

Finally, as the following verses reveal, Titus did return from Corinth, and the news was good.

Verse 6. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Paul has described his great distress while waiting for Titus to return from his visit to the Corinthians. Paul was worried and fearful for several reasons. For one, he had sent Titus with a severe letter of rebuke for the Corinthians about his previous, painful visit with them. He had instructed them to correct an influential man among them guilty of sin. How would they receive Paul’s letter? Would they reject him and his correction? Would they repent and change course? Paul may also have been concerned about Titus’ well-being since Titus failed to show up for an arranged meeting with Paul in Troas. On top of all of that, Paul and his co-workers may have been afflicted by additional opposition in Macedonia that contributed to his stress.

Now, though, Paul reports that God provided for him great comfort when Titus returned with his good report from Corinth, resolving both the issue of Titus’ safety and the Corinthians’ response to Paul’s letter. The following verses will reveal that the Corinthians did, indeed, repent from their sin and express their love for Paul.

It’s important to notice that Paul openly admitted to experiencing fear and great emotional distress. In doing so, he acknowledges that these states of mind may be experienced by believers, including those in ministry. Christians may experience feeling downcast sometimes. That is not evidence that God has abandoned them or that they are being sinful.

It is equally important to notice that Paul describes God as the one who comforts the downcast or discouraged. This is from the Greek term tapeinous, which implies something placed low, humbled, or reduced. God is the ultimate source of comfort for believers who are experiencing emotional distress. That is one of the ways He provides for His children.

Verse 7. and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

Paul and his companions were “downcast.” Verse 6 used a Greek term referring to humility, lowliness, and being “low”. They were suffering affliction from several sources. One of those was that they did not know where Titus was. Traveling in the ancient world could be dangerous, and they were concerned for his safety. In addition, Paul did not know how the Corinthians had responded to a severe and corrective letter he had written to them after his previous painful visit with them. While we do not have the text of that letter, we learn about it in 2 Corinthians.

God comforts the downcast, however, and Paul reported that God provided comfort through Titus’ arrival. Now he clarifies. They were comforted to find that Titus was safe, but they were also comforted by hearing Titus’ report about how the Corinthians had comforted him, especially in their response to Paul’s letter.

How had the Corinthians responded? They had spoken of their longing for Paul. They had described their mourning or grief about their sinfulness and their enthusiastic support of Paul. In short, they had repented of their sin and expressed their affection for Paul. This was all he could have hoped for. Paul experienced not just comfort in hearing this, but he also experienced great joy.

Verse 8. For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it — though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.

At some earlier date, Paul had written a severe and corrective letter to Christians in Corinth. During his last “painful” visit with them, they sided with someone among them who stood against Paul in some way. The details are not clear, but Paul considered their action as sinful and perhaps a personal betrayal of their relationship with him.

He sent Titus to Corinth to deliver this rebuke and instruction to repent. Titus had now, finally, returned and reported that the Corinthians had, in fact, repented. They mourned over their sin after reading Paul’s letter to them.

Paul has two reactions to hearing about their sadness in response to his rebuke. Like a loving parent, he hates to hear that they were sad, but he also understands their sadness to be a sign of genuine repentance from wrongdoing. So, he declares both that he does not regret writing the letter, since it led to repentance, but that he did regret hurting them in this way because of his affection for them. He is glad that their sorrow lasted only for a short time and achieved its purpose.

He writes in the following verses that this is exactly how godly repentance is supposed to work: sadness for a moment followed by restoration and a renewed commitment to doing what is right.

Verse 9. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

Paul’s severe letter rebuking the Corinthians for their sinfulness hit home with them in the best way possible. Instead of angrily rejecting Paul’s correction, they were grieved. Understanding that they had been sinful in this way made them deeply sad.

The tone here sounds like a loving parent in his response to hearing about their sadness. On the one hand, Paul hates to hear that they experienced this grief. On the other hand, he is thrilled that their reaction was appropriate and godly. He rejoices because this is exactly the response that was needed to bring them to repentance. Repentance is a commitment to change course and go in the correct direction. Often repentance from sin only follows the sadness that comes from understanding the consequences of that sin.

Scripture describes this sadness as a “godly grief.” Paul acknowledges that his letter caused them to experience this pain, but it was the temporary, beneficial pain they needed in order to move away from their sinful course. In other words, Paul’s severe letter did not hurt them, did not cause them loss. Instead, it helped them. The following verses will expand on the difference between godly, convicting sorrow and worldly despair.

Verse 10. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Paul has written about the deep sorrow experienced by the Corinthians in response to his letter to them. They grieved deeply over their sinfulness. Paul has not dismissed that pain, but he has said he rejoices because it led to their repentance from sin. In the end, it was for their good and not their harm.

Now Paul generalizes this idea to every believer. “Godly grief” produces repentance: turning away from the sinful path to go in the right direction. That repentance leads to salvation and leaves no regret. Paul may not have in mind here salvation in the sense of a person’s eternal destiny. Those in Christ are securely saved because God’s forgiveness for sin is irreversible. He may have in mind salvation from sin’s painful consequences.

Godly grief hurts. It hurts us to recognize our sinfulness and our responsibility for bringing pain to others with our sin. If that hurt leads to repentance, though, it is a pain that frees the believer from regret. In the end, a Christian is glad for the grief that brought them back to the path of life.

Worldly grief, on the other hand, leads only to death. Worldly grief is a pain over the consequences of sin that does not lead to repentance. It is only pain followed by more sin followed by more pain. The path of sin always leads to death and destruction and never to life and joyfulness.

Verse 11. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Somewhere between the writing of what we now call “1 Corinthians” and “2 Corinthians,” Paul composed a severe letter to the same church, which is now lost. In it, he apparently rebuked them for not dealing with at least one person among them who stood against Paul during his last visit with them. He instructed them to hold this person accountable, which they have now done (2 Corinthians 2:6). Paul has received news from Titus, who delivered the letter, that they have experienced great sorrow over their sinful lack of response to this man and have repented. Paul called this sorrow they felt the “godly grief” that brings about repentance.

He now points to some other things this sorrow has caused. The Corinthians have reacted to it with an earnestness and eagerness to clear themselves by making things right. They have responded with indignation towards Paul’s opponent. They have expressed “fear, which in this context is reverence for God and or respect for His punishment.

The Corinthians have expressed longing for Paul, enthusiasm instead of passiveness, and loving punishment of Paul’s sinful opponent. Paul declares that in all these ways, they have proved themselves innocent.

It’s not exactly clear how Paul means they had proved “innocent” if, in fact, it was a sense of guilt which brought them to sorrow and the repentance that followed. Most likely, Paul means they have re-established their innocent standing now that they have dealt with the sins which made them guilty.

Verse 12. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.

This passage continues to describe how the Corinthians responded to a severe letter from Paul. The text of that letter is lost, but we get enough detail in 2 Corinthians to understand the scenario. The letter rebuked the Corinthian church for siding with—or not responding to—one among them who had drastically opposed Paul. He instructed them to discipline the man. Paul’s letter brought them grief, which led to repentance. In the previous verse, he praised them for punishing the man, but also for their eagerness to make things right.

Now Paul clarifies his reason for writing the letter. It was not for the sake of the man who opposed him. Nor was it for himself as some victim of the man’s opposition. Paul wrote the letter to help the Corinthians to see more clearly how earnest they were to be in a good relationship with Paul. Paul wanted them to know this about themselves in the sight of God. Paul insists that his concern for the Corinthians, above all other reasons, is what motivated him to write his severe letter.

Sometimes a strong rebuke is required to help us clarify what matters most to us. The Corinthians confirmed something from Paul’s rebuke and their repentance. They established that maintaining their connection to Paul—and Paul’s connection to God—mattered far more than avoiding discipline of one among them who opposed Paul, and, thus, opposed God.

Verse 13. Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

Paul has praised the Corinthians for their response to his rebuke. They have turned from their sin. This was either agreement or non-responsiveness toward one among them who opposed Paul. They have been eager to make everything right again. Paul was deeply concerned that they might respond differently, so he has been comforted by Titus’ report from Corinth.

In addition to being comforted about the Corinthians’ choice to make things right, Paul also rejoiced because of Titus’ joy. Titus was refreshed and encouraged by the Corinthians. Paul had apparently been concerned that if the Corinthians did not receive the rebuke in his letter positively, they might treat Titus badly. Just the opposite happened. Titus witnessed firsthand their sorrow about their sin and their eager repentance. He was encouraged not only by their kindness to him but also by the example of their faithfulness to Paul and, by extension, to God. As a result, Titus’ spirit was refreshed.

This serves as an example to all believers. Any choice we make to sin does not happen entirely detached from the community of Christians. Those we might not expect to be affected can still be caught in the consequences of our disobedience. In the same way, however, a believer who chooses to repent and obey Christ once again also impacts the community at large in a positive way. We have opportunity to refresh and encourage others simply by doing what is right ourselves.

Verse 14. For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.

There can be awkwardness when you have told two different people about each other, and they finally meet, especially under difficult circumstances. One reason Paul had been concerned about sending Titus to the church in Corinth with his letter of severe rebuke was that he genuinely liked both Titus and the Corinthians. He has boasted to Titus about the great work God was doing in the hearts and lives of the believers in Corinth, as he had boasted to them about God’s work in and through Titus. He had set them up to meet for the first time amid a necessary confrontation between himself and the Corinthians.

In the end, though, it all worked out well. The Corinthians had received Paul’s rebuke with sorrow for their own actions and eager repentance. Titus had been refreshed and encouraged by them. Paul had been vindicated about his boasting to both parties about the other instead of shamed for overstating their excellent qualities.

Verse 15. And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.

Paul has expressed his great relief and comfort that the Corinthians received his letter of rebuke with sorrow, repentance, and eagerness to make things right. Titus is the one who delivered the letter. Titus was one of Paul’s co-workers for the gospel, a man he mentored in the ministry. Paul has also expressed his joy that Titus was so encouraged by the response of the Corinthians, as well.

Paul now adds that Titus has grown to have even greater affection for the Corinthians than he has. It’s not just that the people there were nice to him or made him feel welcome. Titus was impressed by their choice to obey God by obeying Paul’s instructions to them to discipline the man who was opposing Paul’s Christ-appointed ministry.

In addition to that obedience, Titus was impressed with their attitude. They showed great respect to him as a representative of Paul who was a representative of Christ. Paul writes that they received Titus with fear and trembling, meaning that they recognized that he came with Christ’s authority. That demonstration of humility caused Titus to have great affection for them.

Verse 16. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

This verse wraps up Paul’s praise for the Corinthians’ sorrowful and repentant response to his letter of rebuke. He has just described how impressed Titus was with their obedience and attitude of humility when he was with them. Paul now declares bluntly that he has complete confidence in them. This fact causes him to rejoice.

The Corinthians’ response to being rebuked for their response to a troublemaker is a model for all believers about how to turn from sin when we recognize it. Deep sadness is an appropriate starting place. Our sin comes with often devastating consequences, including the breaking of relationships with people we care about. That sadness led the Corinthians to repent, to turn away from the sin by quickly and eagerly making things right. They began to obey instead of to disobey. They did so with a sense of humility and fearful respect for their powerful God.

Paul, too, serves as a model for believers. He shows the need to sometimes engage in difficult and awkward confrontation with someone we care about over their sin. He also shows how to respond with praise, rejoicing, and renewed confidence when that person repents.

End of Chapter 7.

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