2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 7
Verses 1-7
“I Never Meant To Hurt You!”
[9-24-17]
Review: “Be Ye Separate!”
2 Corinthians 6:11-18) (ERV) We have spoken freely to you people in Corinth. We have opened our hearts to you.
12) (CEV) We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us.
13) (CEV) I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.
QUESTION: What is Paul asking the Corinthian Christians to do in vs. 11-13?
- We have opened our hearts to you, and we still love you [vs. 11-12].
- Would you open your hearts to us and love us [vs. 13]?
14) (ERV) You are not the same as those who don’t believe. So don’t join yourselves to them. Good and evil don’t belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room.
15) (ERV) How can there be any unity between Christ and the devil? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16) (ERV) God’s temple cannot have anything to do with idols, and we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live with them and walk with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
QUESTION: What are the contrasts between believers and unbelievers?
- We believers live in the realm of “good” and “light;” they, the unbelievers, live in the realm of “evil” and “darkness” [vs. 14].
- We follow Christ; unknown to many of them, they follow the devil; therefore, we have nothing of eternal value in common with them [vs. 15].
- We are the “temple of the living God;” they, unknown to them, worship in the temple of idols [vs. 16].
17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [Isaiah 52:11].
(GW) The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.”
18) (KJV) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
This Week: “I Never Meant To Hurt You!”
2 Corinthians 7:1-7) [KJV] Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting <2005> holiness in the fear of God.
(ERV) Dear friends, we have these promises from God. So we should make ourselves pure–free from anything that makes our body or our soul unclean. Our respect for God should make us try to be completely holy in the way we live.
“perfecting” – “to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete” [Thayer].
Phillipians 1:6) [KJV] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform <2005> it until the day of Jesus Christ:
QUESTION: What should our reaction be to God promising us that He will receive us; and that He will be a Father to us?
Phillipians 2:12) [KJV] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
“The English translation is good, if one uses the words ‘work out’ as one does when referring to the working out of a problem in mathematics, that is, carrying it to its ultimate goal or conclusion. The Greek word here means just this” [Wuest].
ANSWER: We should worship Him by trying to do our very best to live the way he wants us to live. We became “holy” when we came to Christ; now we are to carry that “holiness” to its logical conclusion.
NOTE: God began “a good work” in us; He will bring that work to perfection. We are to work toward that same end.
**ANOTHER NOTE: The first 4 verses of Philippians 2 tell us that we should put others first; then the next 7 verses show us how Jesus put us first. We are then instructed to carry our salvation to its logical conclusion; that conclusion being putting the needs of others before our own needs.
Phillipians 2:13) [KJV] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(ERV) Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.
QUESTION: What do we learn when we compare vs. 1 of our current study to Philippians 2:12-13?
ANSWER: Our “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” is the same thing as our working “out” our “own salvation with fear and trembling.” It is our working out our salvation by carrying it to its logical conclusion!
NOTE: We perfect holiness and work out our salvation by living our lives like the Christians we are.
2) Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3) I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
(ERV) I do not say this to blame you. I told you before that we love you so much we would live or die with you.
QUESTION: What is Paul saying to his Corinthian readers in vs. 2-3?
ANSWER: He’s telling them that he, and his team, haven’t done anything to “wrong” them.
QUESTION: Again, why were his Corinthian readers struggling with Paul?
Vs. 8 of this chapter) For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
ANSWER: Again, as I pointed out in last week’s lesson, Paul wrote a rebuking letter to the church in Corinth. Last week I pointed out 13 of those rebukes.
Proverbs 27:6) [KJV] Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
NOTE: Today we hear things like this: “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” Sometimes it necessary to speak frankly with those you love. Those you would live and die with are the ones to whom you must be the most honest with.
4) Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
QUESTION: What is this verse telling us?
ANSWER: Paul might have exercised great boldness of speech in his first letter, but he wants his readers to know that he is just as boldly bragging about them to others. His love for them comforts and gives joy to him when he faces tribulation.
5) For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
(GW) Ever since we arrived in the province of Macedonia, we’ve had no rest. Instead, we suffer in a number of ways. Outwardly we have conflicts, and inwardly we have fears.
6) Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
QUESTION: What is Paul explaining to his readers in vs. 5-6?
ANSWER: On their missionary travels they often faced constant troubles, troubles that caused them fear. However, Titus brought them a message that gave them great comfort.
7) And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
(ERV) It was so good to see him, but we were encouraged even more to hear about the encouragement you gave him. He told us that you really want to see me and that you are very sorry for what you did. And he told us how ready and willing you are to help me. When I heard this, I was so much happier.
QUESTION: What gave Paul comfort when he faced so many dangers?
ANSWER: He was comforted when he found out that what he was doing was making an eternal difference in people’s lives. WHAT HE DID MATTERED!!
QUESTION: In what way did what he did matter?
ANSWER: The people who received the Gospel message he shared came to know Jesus; and that Jesus would at that very moment begin a good work in them that He would perform until that day when He comes again [Philippians 1:6].
NOTE: What Paul might not have known is that WHAT HE DID MATTERED on a far grander scale than he could have envisioned; all of us who have received Jesus as our Savior because of the words the Holy Spirit inspired him to write will thank him in Heaven.
2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 7
Verses 8-16
“Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?”
[10-1-17]
Review: “I Never Meant To Hurt You!”
2 Corinthians 7:1-7) [KJV] Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting <2005> holiness in the fear of God.
Phillipians 2:12) [KJV] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
“The English translation is good, if one uses the words ‘work out’ as one does when referring to the working out of a problem in mathematics, that is, carrying it to its ultimate goal or conclusion. The Greek word here means just this” [Wuest].
2) Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3) I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
NOTE: As I pointed out in the last 2 week’s lesson, Paul wrote a rebuking letter to the church in Corinth. Two weeks ago I pointed out 13 of those rebukes.
Proverbs 27:6) [KJV] Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
4) Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5) For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6) Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7) And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
NOTE: Paul was comforted when he found out that what he was doing was making an eternal difference in people’s lives. WHAT HE DID MATTERED!!
NOTE: What Paul might not have known is that WHAT HE DID MATTERED on a far grander scale than he could have envisioned; all of us who have received Jesus as our Savior because of the words the Holy Spirit inspired him to write will thank him in Heaven.
This Week: “Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?”
2 Corinthians 7:8-16) [KJV] For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
(ERV) Even if the letter I wrote you made you sad, I am not sorry I wrote it. I know that letter made you sad, and I was sorry for that. But it made you sad only for a short time.
9) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
(ERV) Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you decide to change. That is what God wanted, so you were not hurt by us in any way.
QUESTION: How did Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church make them feel?
ANSWER: It “gave” them “pain” [BBE]; it “hurt” their “feelings” [CEV]; it “made” them “sad” [ERV & GNB]; it “made” them “uncomfortable” [GW]; it “grieved” them [Murdock].
QUESTION: Why did it make them feel that way?
ANSWER: They reacted that way because First Corinthians was a letter Paul wrote to them to correct many of the things they were doing in their Christian walk, and in their church services.
10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(ERV) The kind of sorrow God wants makes people decide to change their lives. This leads them to salvation, and we cannot be sorry for that. But the kind of sorrow the world has will bring death.
(Murdock) For, sorrowing on account of God, worketh a conversion of the soul which is not reversed, and a turning unto life: but the sorrowing of the world worketh death.
“Repentance must never be thought of as something we must do before we can come back to God. Repentance describes what coming to God is. You can’t turn towards God without turning from the things He is against” [Guzik].
Regarding “godly sorrow” versus “the sorrow of the world,” – Godly sorrow causes us to repent; “the kind of sorrow that the world has, grief ‘for failure, not for sin’” (Bernard) [Robertson].
QUESTION: What important truth do we learn from vs. 10?
ANSWER: If our telling God we’re sorry for something we did doesn’t lead to a change in our conduct then we’re probably not experiencing Godly sorrow; but rather, we’re just sorry that we continue to do the same thing over and over. In other words, in lieu of the comment above by Robertson, we’re just sick of failing.
“Regret is that activity of the mind (intellect) that causes us to say, ‘Why did I do that?’ Remorse touches us a little deeper causing us to feel disgust and pain (involving both the intellect and the heart), but not causing us to change our ways. True repentance brings in the third aspect of our minds – our will. To truly repent one must have a change of will. ‘Godly sorrow’ is the catalyst that brings us to true repentance’” [Warren Wiersbe, Be Reverent, p. 149]. {www.bible.ca/ef/expository}
Luke 18:9-14) [KJV] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Concerning Paul’s Rebuke of the Sexual Sin (1 Corinthians 5:1-8)
11) For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
(GNB) See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence! Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault in the whole matter.
12) Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
(ERV) The main reason I wrote that letter was not because of the one who did the wrong or the one who was hurt. I wrote so that you would realize, before God, how very much you care for us.
13) Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
(ERV) And that is what was so encouraging to us. We were greatly encouraged, but we were especially pleased to see how happy Titus was. You all made him feel so much better.
NOTE: These verses refer to Paul’s rebuke of the Corinthian Church for not judging the member who was living with his stepmother.
NOTE: Paul is telling us that the reaction of the Corinthian believers to their Godly sorrow shows that they were innocent of that matter in the sense that they too were repulsed by the sin; however it seems, they didn’t judge the sin until after their repentance.
14) 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 a truth.
(ERV) I had bragged about you to Titus, and you didn’t embarrass me. We have always told you the truth, and now what we told Titus about you has been shown to be true.
15) And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
(ERV) And his love for you is stronger when he remembers that you were all ready to obey. You welcomed him with respect and fear.
16) I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
NOTE: Paul concludes his thoughts on this subject by writing that his confidence in the Corinthian believers had been fully restored.