所以各位蒙愛的人哪,我們既然擁有這些應許,就讓我們潔淨自己,除去肉體和靈魂的一切汙穢,懷著敬畏神的心來達成聖潔。

悔改與喜樂

請你們接受我們。我們沒有虧負過誰,沒有敗壞過誰,也沒有對不起誰。 我這樣說,不是為定你們的罪,因為我先前說過:你們常在我們心中,我們甚至可以與你們同生共死。 我對你們大有確信,為你們大大誇耀;我充滿了安慰,在我們一切的患難中,喜樂格外增多。

實際上,我們以前到馬其頓省的時候,不但身體得不到安寧,也處處受患難,外有爭戰,內有懼怕。 然而那安慰卑微[a]之人的神,藉著提多的到來安慰了我們; 不僅藉著他的到來,也藉著他從你們所受的安慰,安慰了我們[b],因他向我們報告了你們的渴望、你們的傷痛、你們對我的熱心,以致使我更加歡喜。 即使我在那封信中使你們憂傷,我也不後悔了;因為就算我後悔過——我知道那封信使你們憂傷,雖然只是暫時的—— 現在我還是感到歡喜。這並不是因為你們憂傷,而是因為你們憂傷以至於悔改。實際上,你們按神的意思[c]憂傷,使你們在任何事上都不會因我們而受到損失; 10 因為按神的意思[d]憂傷,就生出悔改通向救恩,是不懊悔的;可是屬世界的憂傷,卻帶來死亡。 11 看哪,原來正是這件事——你們按神的意思[e]憂傷——在你們裡面帶來了何等的殷勤、分辯、義憤、敬畏、渴望、熱心和懲罰。你們在各方面都證明了自己在那件事上是純潔的。 12 因此我雖然給你們寫了信,但不是為了那虧負人的,也不是為了那受虧負的,而是為了在神面前把你們對我們的殷勤,向你們顯明出來。 13 為此,我們受到了安慰。

在這安慰之外,我們又因著提多的喜樂更是格外喜樂,因為他的心靈被你們大家所安撫。 14 原來,即使我向提多誇耀過你們什麼,我也不至於蒙羞;其實就像我們對你們所講的一切都是真實的,照樣我們向提多所誇耀你們的也是真實的; 15 而且當提多想起你們大家的順從,想起你們怎樣懷著敬畏和戰兢的心接受他,他對你們的情感就越發增多了。 16 我如今歡喜的是,在一切事上我都因你們滿懷勇氣。

Footnotes

  1. 哥林多後書 7:6 卑微——或譯作「謙卑」。
  2. 哥林多後書 7:7 安慰了我們——輔助詞語。
  3. 哥林多後書 7:9 的意思——輔助詞語。
  4. 哥林多後書 7:10 的意思——輔助詞語。
  5. 哥林多後書 7:11 的意思——輔助詞語。

1 Lest by overmuch urging them he should dismay their tender minds, 2 he proveth that all that he said, 4 proceeded of the great good will he bare unto them: 8 and therefore they should not be offended, that he made them sorry, 10 and brought them to repentance not to be repented of.

Seeing then we have these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the [a]flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctification in the fear of God.

[b][c]Receive us: we have done wrong to no man: we have corrupted no man: we have defrauded no man.

I speak it not to your [d]condemnation: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts, to die and live together.

I use great boldness of speech toward you: I rejoice greatly in you: I am filled with comfort, and am exceeding joyous in all our tribulation.

For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, fightings without, and terrors within.

But God, that comforteth the [e]abject, comforted us at the [f]coming of Titus:

And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you, when he told us your great desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to me-ward, so that I rejoiced much more.

[g]For though I made you sorry with a letter, I repent not, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same Epistle made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye sorrowed to [h]repentance: for ye sorrowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by us.

10 For [i]godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of: but the worldly sorrow causeth death.

11 For behold, this thing that ye have been godly sorry, what great care hath it wrought in you: yea, what clearing of yourselves: yea, what indignation: yea, what fear: yea, how great desire: yea, what a zeal: yea, what revenge: in all things ye have showed yourselves, that ye are pure in this matter.

12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did not it for his cause that had done the wrong, neither for his cause that had the injury, but that our care toward you in the [j]sight of God might appear unto you.

13 Therefore we were comforted, because ye were comforted: but rather we rejoiced much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14 For if that I have boasted anything to him of you, I have not been ashamed: but as I have spoken unto you all things in truth, even so our boasting unto Titus was true.

15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, when he remembereth the obedience of you all, and how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16 I rejoice therefore that I may put my confidence in you in all things.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Both of body and soul, that by this means the sanctification may be perfect, consisting in both the parts thereof.
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:2 He returneth again from that admonition to his own person, opposing the testimonies both of his faithfulness and also of his continual good will towards them.
  3. 2 Corinthians 7:2 Let me have some place amongst you, that I may teach you.
  4. 2 Corinthians 7:3 To condemn you of unkindness or treachery.
  5. 2 Corinthians 7:6 Whose hearts are cast down, and are very far spent.
  6. 2 Corinthians 7:6 With those things which Titus told me of you at his coming, to wit, how fruitfully you read over my letters, moreover and besides that, I am exceedingly refreshed with his presence.
  7. 2 Corinthians 7:8 An objection: But thou hast handled us roughly. The Apostle answereth that he used not this toughness without grief. And he addeth moreover, that he is also glad now that he drove them to that sorrow, although it was against his will, since it was so profitable unto them: for there is a sorrow not only praiseworthy, but also necessary, to wit, whereby repentance groweth by certain degrees, for the which repentance he praiseth them highly. And this is the fifth part of this Epistle.
  8. 2 Corinthians 7:9 Insomuch that that sorrow did you much good toward the amending of your lewdness and sins.
  9. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow is when we are not terrified with the fear of punishment, but because we feel we have offended God our most merciful Father: contrary to this, there is another sorrow, that only feareth punishment, or when a man is vexed for the loss of some worldly goods: the fruit of the first, repentance, and the fruit of the second, is desperation, unless the Lord helps speedily.
  10. 2 Corinthians 7:12 It was not colored nor counterfeit, but such as I dare stand to before God.

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.

Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

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.

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.

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

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.

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.

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.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

The Corinthians’ Repentance

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

The Corinthians’ Repentance

Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, (B)we have cheated no one. I do not say this to condemn; for (C)I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. (D)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, (E)great is my boasting on your behalf. (F)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

For indeed, (G)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but (H)we were troubled on every side. (I)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless (J)God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by (K)the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the [a]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

For even if I made you (L)sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; (M)though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For (N)godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; (O)but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what (P)clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be (Q)clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, (R)but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

The Joy of Titus

13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit (S)has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers (T)the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that (U)I have confidence in you in everything.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:7 comfort