THE SECOND EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS
2 Corinthians 7 ©
1 From the foregoing promises of God, the apostle draws a new exhortation to sanctification, 2 And again justifies for his conduct in life among them. 3 Testifies his singular inclination towards them, yea even in the midst of all tribulations, and assures himself also of their (inclination) towards him. 6 In which opinion he is more strengthened by the arrival and testimony of Titus. 8 And although by his serious reproof he had previously grieved them, yet he acknowledges that nevertheless this grief was a grief according to God, 10 Which he proves by the fruits of the same grief. 13 And by the joy of Titus after his return. 14 Who had found all things so with them, even as the apostle had been confident of them.
HAVING therefore 1these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness 2of the flesh and spirit, 3perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
4Receive us; we have 5wronged no man, we have 6corrupted no man, we have 7defrauded no man.
I speak not this 8to condemn you: for I have said before,a that ye are in our hearts to die and live 9with you.
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, Ib am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
For, when we were come into Macedonia, 10our flesh had no rest, butc we were troubled on every side; without were 11fightings, within were 12fears.
Neverthelessd God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us 13by the coming of Titus;
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us 14your earnest desire, 15your mourning, 16your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
For though I made you sorry 17with a letter, I do not repent, though I 18did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, 19that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
Fore20godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but 21the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,f what 22carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what 23clearing of yourselves, yea, what 24indignation, yea, what 25fear, yea, what 26vehement desire, yea, what 27zeal, yea, what 28revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be 29clear in this 30matter.
Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it 31not for his cause 32that had done the wrong, nor for his cause 33that suffered wrong, but that 34our care 35for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed 36by you all.
For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found 37a truth.
And his 38inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
I rejoice therefore that I 39have confidence in you in all things.