1 Therefore,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
2 Openyourheartsto us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one,we have cheated no one.
3 I do not saythisto condemn; forI have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
4 Greatismy boldness of speech toward you,greatismy boasting on your behalf.I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed,when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, butwe were troubled on every side.Outsidewereconflicts, insidewerefears.
6 NeverthelessGod, who comforts the downcast, comforted us bythe coming of Titus,
7 and not only by his coming, but also by the 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.
8 For even if I made yousorry with my letter, I do not regret it;though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
9 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 Forgodly sorrow produces repentanceleadingto salvation, not to be regretted;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,whatclearing of yourselves, what indignation,whatfear,whatvehement desire,whatzeal,whatvindication! In allthingsyou proved yourselves to beclear in this matter.
12 Therefore, although I wrote to you,Ididnotdoitfor the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong,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 spirithas 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 remembersthe obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
16 Therefore I rejoice thatI have confidence in you in everything.