Paul's Joy

2 Corinthians 7

2 k Make room in your hearts 1 for us. l We 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 m you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with n great boldness toward you; o I have great pride in you; p I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even q when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn - r fighting without and fear within. 6 But s God, who comforts the downcast, t comforted 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 u even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it - though v I 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 w because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For x godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas y worldly 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, z what 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 a 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.

13 Therefore b we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit c has been refreshed by you all. 14 For d whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you e was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers f the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have perfect g confidence in you.

  1. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:12 - 13
    You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 20:33
    I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
    2 Corinthians 11:20
    For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
  3. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:11 - 13
    We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
  4. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 3:12
    Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
  5. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:12
    For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
    2 Corinthians 8:24
    So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
    2 Corinthians 9:2
    For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
  6. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:4
    Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
    Philippians 2:17
    Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
    Colossians 1:24
    Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
    2 Corinthians 6:10
    As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
  7. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:13
    My spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
  8. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:25
    Outdoors the sword shall bereave, and indoors terror, for young man and woman alike, the nursing child with the man of gray hairs.
    Lamentations 1:20
    Look, O Lord, for I am in distress; my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death.
  9. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:4
    Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:13
    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.
    1 Thessalonians 3:6 - 7
    But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you -
  11. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:2
    For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?
  12. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:4
    For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 38:18
    I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
    1 Corinthians 5:2
    And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
  14. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:13
    David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
    Acts 11:18
    When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.
  15. Cross References
    Proverbs 17:22
    A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
  16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:6
    For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough.
  17. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 5:1 - 2
    It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
  18. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:6
    But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 15:32
    So that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
  20. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:24
    So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
    2 Corinthians 9:2
    For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
    2 Corinthians 10:8
    For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.
    2 Thessalonians 1:4
    Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
  21. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:2
    But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
    2 Corinthians 6:7
    By truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.
  22. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:9
    For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.
    2 Corinthians 10:6
    Being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
  23. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:3
    And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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