2 Corinthians 7
Since we have these promises, beloved, alet us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Paul’s Joy
2 aMake room in your hearts for us. bWe have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that ayou are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with agreat boldness toward you; bI have great pride in you; cI am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
5 For even awhen we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—bfighting without and fear within. 6 But aGod, who comforts the downcast, bcomforted us by the coming of Titus, 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. 8 For aeven if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though bI did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but abecause you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For agodly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas bworldly grief produces death. 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, awhat zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one awho 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. 13 Therefore awe are comforted.
And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit bhas been refreshed by you all. 14 For awhatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you bwas true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers athe obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete aconfidence in you.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.