2 Corinthians — Chapter 7
Cleanse flesh and spirit
7:1
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Textual & reception notes
This exhortation carries forward the promises quoted in 6:16–18 despite the chapter division. Flesh and spirit together describe the scope of cleansing.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: God's promises call for active holiness as well as cleansing. [Homily 13, on 2 Corinthians 7:1].
Titus brings comfort
7:2
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Make room for us. We wronged no one, corrupted no one, took advantage of no one.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The appeal for room in their hearts softens Paul's rebuke. [Homily 14, on 2 Corinthians 7:2-4].
7:3
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
I do not speak for condemnation, for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Love shares friends' adversity without envying their prosperity. [Homily 14, on 2 Corinthians 7:2-4].
7:4
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Great is my boldness toward you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I overflow exceedingly with joy in all our affliction.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Their amendment brings Paul consolation exceeding his present affliction. [Homily 14, on 2 Corinthians 7:2-4].
7:5
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For even when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way: conflicts outside, fears within.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: External opposition accompanies concern for vulnerable believers within the community. [Homily 14, on 2 Corinthians 7:5].
7:6
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But God, who comforts the lowly, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: God comforts Paul through the arrival of Titus. [Homily 14, on 2 Corinthians 7:6-7].
7:7
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted over you, reporting to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal on my behalf, so that I rejoiced still more.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Titus brings confirmation of their amendment and affection. [Homily 14, on 2 Corinthians 7:6-7].
Sorrow leading to repentance
7:8
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For even if I caused you sorrow by the letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, even if for a time—
Textual & reception notes
Regret renders metamelomai, distinguished in English from repentance, metanoia, at 7:9–10. The letter is not newly identified with a surviving document.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The corrective letter's beneficial outcome overcomes Paul's earlier regret. [Homily 15, on 2 Corinthians 7:8-9].
7:9
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
now I rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful toward repentance. For you were made sorrowful according to God, so that you might suffer no loss from us in anything.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul values sorrow for its repentance, not for distress itself. [Homily 15, on 2 Corinthians 7:8-9].
7:10
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For sorrow according to God produces repentance toward salvation without regret, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Textual & reception notes
Without regret renders ametamelētos; it can qualify repentance or the resulting salvation. The Greek wordplay with regret in 7:8 is retained.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Penitential sorrow heals, whereas worldly sorrow can destroy. [Homily 15, on 2 Corinthians 7:10].
7:11
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For look at this very thing, your being made sorrowful according to God: what diligence it produced in you, what defense, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In everything you showed yourselves to be pure in the matter.
Textual & reception notes
Vindication renders ekdikēsis in the sequence of responses; punishment is another contextual sense. The precise disciplinary action is not supplied.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Earnest amendment supplies visible evidence of repentance. [Homily 15, on 2 Corinthians 7:11].
7:12
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
So even if I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did wrong, nor for the sake of the one wronged, but so that your diligence on our behalf might be made manifest to you before God.
Textual & reception notes
Text [G]: Your diligence on our behalf follows the actual pronouns in the accessed text, rather than reversing them.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Correction serves the community's welfare beyond the immediate dispute. [Homily 15, on 2 Corinthians 7:12].
7:13
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For this reason we have been comforted. And beyond our comfort, we rejoiced much more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The Corinthians' reception of Titus increases Paul's consolation. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 7:13].
7:14
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For if I have boasted anything to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke everything to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved true.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Their conduct vindicates Paul's confidence in them. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 7:14].
7:15
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And his affections are more abundant toward you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Remembered obedience deepens Titus's affection. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 7:15].
7:16
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul's confidence prepares the way for further pastoral counsel. [Homily 16, on 2 Corinthians 7:16].