2 Corinthians 7:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

NIV: Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

NASB: Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

CSB: So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

NLT: Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

KJV: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

NKJV: Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Paul begins by referencing "these promises" possessed by those who are in Christ. He has just referenced several Old Testament Scriptures connecting God's promises to the Israelites with their obedience at separating from ungodly nations and unclean things. Some of God's promises to Israel depended on the Israelites' willingness and ability to obey God in this way. This was the structure of the old covenant.

Under the new covenant, however, are God's promises to live with those who are in Christ, to be their Father, and to welcome them into His presence forever. These are not dependent on the believer's ability to obey; they are dependent only on Christ. Paul wrote at the beginning of this letter, "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

In other words, to have God's promises in Christ is to have them securely. How should believers respond to rock-solid promises from the God who does not lie? We must clean ourselves up in both body and spirit. Since God lives in believers right now in the Holy Spirit, Christians must remove from their lives anything that is in any way opposed to God. For the Corinthians, who lived in a culture that had normalized idol worship, this included removing any and every connection to the worship of idols or false gods.

This ongoing process of cleansing our lives from things that opposed to God is how a believer participates with God in "bringing holiness to completion." God is the one who sets a believer aside as His, as holy, as set apart for His purposes. He does that for all who come to Him through faith in Christ and He begins the process of making that person new in the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul wrote that God will also finish this work in every believer (1 Corinthians 1:8). Christians, though, must participate by obeying God's commands to set aside every disobedience "in the fear of the Lord." That fear is about great respect for God's power and righteousness. It's also about carrying an awareness that Christ will judge the works of every believer when He returns, not to decide that person's eternal destiny but to give to him or her what is due for how they lived as believers (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Second Corinthians 6:14—7:1 begins with Paul's command to the Corinthians not to be ''unequally yoked'' with unbelievers. Light and darkness cannot be in fellowship. Christ and Satan cannot work together. Christians are God's temples on earth since His Spirit lives in them. That's why they must separate themselves from any kind of formal, binding relationship with unbelievers. Paul references several Old Testament Scriptures to show that believers in Jesus must separate themselves from being ''yoked'' to unbelievers since God is their Father and lives among them.

Verse 1 concludes the previous chapter's declaration that believers, as God's holy people, must cleanse their lives of defilement. Next, Paul urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers. He expresses his great comfort and joy over Titus' report that they received a letter of rebuke from him with sorrow and repentance, eager to make things right. He is glad to hear that Titus was impressed with their obedience and humble attitude. This hasn't resolved all the issues between Paul and the Corinthians, but he expresses his complete confidence in them.

Second Corinthians 7 begins with a single verse concluding Paul's teaching about what it means for Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. He then urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his fellow ministers. He expresses enormous comfort at hearing that they have received a letter of rebuke from him with an eagerness to make things right with him. Titus, too, is impressed with their obedience and humility. Paul declares that he now has complete confidence in them. Following chapters will continue to address spiritual problems within that church.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.