2 Corinthians 7 11

2 Corinthians 7:11 kjv

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.

2 Corinthians 7:11 nkjv

For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Corinthians 7:11 niv

See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

2 Corinthians 7:11 esv

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

2 Corinthians 7:11 nlt

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

2 Corinthians 7 verses

2 Corinthians 7 11 Meaning

This verse details the positive and active outcomes that emerged from the Corinthian believers' godly sorrow. Their profound grief over sin, aligned with God's will, was not passive despair but a powerful catalyst for seven distinct and tangible responses: intense diligence, a desire for self-vindication, righteous indignation against wrong, reverent fear, a deep longing for Paul, fervent zeal, and the appropriate discipline of the offense. These actions collectively served as clear evidence that they were innocent and righteous in their handling of the difficult situation previously addressed by Paul.

2 Corinthians 7 11 Context

This verse stands at a critical juncture in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, following his emotional account of his suffering and comfort (2 Cor 1:3-11) and his defense of his ministry (2 Cor 2:12-7:4). The immediate context of 2 Corinthians 7 is Paul's profound relief and joy upon receiving a positive report from Titus regarding the Corinthian church. Earlier, Paul had sent a "severe letter" (possibly 1 Cor or another letter now lost), addressing significant moral issues within the church, including an unrepentant, incestuous man, and challenging Paul's apostolic authority. He feared their reaction but longed for their repentance. Titus’s arrival brought news that the Corinthians had indeed grieved over their sin, not with worldly sorrow leading to despair, but with a godly sorrow that spurred them to action and correction (2 Cor 7:9-10). Verse 11 enumerates the seven distinct, active, and purifying consequences of that godly sorrow, affirming their genuine change of heart and paving the way for full reconciliation. Historically, Corinth was a key Roman port city known for its diverse population, wealth, and widespread immorality. The church, planted by Paul, wrestled with adopting Christian ethics amidst such cultural pressures, making the issues of sin and repentance particularly pertinent to their ongoing spiritual maturity.

2 Corinthians 7 11 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a causal relationship, connecting what follows to the preceding statements about godly sorrow leading to repentance. It introduces the evidence for their repentance.
• see (ἴδετε - idete): An imperative verb, "look!" or "consider!" It commands attention, highlighting the remarkable and evident transformation in them.
• what (ὁποίαν - hopoian): An interrogative/exclamatory pronoun meaning "of what sort" or "how great." It emphasizes the quality and intensity of the subsequent list.
• earnestness (σπουδὴν - spoudēn): Refers to diligent activity, eagerness, zeal, haste, or intensity. It indicates active commitment, not passive regret. This goes beyond mere sorrow; it's sorrow translated into immediate, serious action.
• this very thing (τοῦτο αὐτὸ - touto auto): Literally "this itself," emphasizing that their sorrow alone was the direct cause, highlighting its powerful efficacy.
• your sorrowing according to God (τὸ κατὰ Θεὸν λυπηθῆναι - to kata Theon lupēthēnai): This phrase specifies the nature of their sorrow. "According to God" signifies sorrow motivated by displeasing God, aligning with His standards, and focused on restoration with Him, contrasting with worldly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10). It's a divinely-inspired remorse.
• has produced (κατειργάσατο - kateirgasato): An aorist middle indicative verb, meaning "it has accomplished," "worked out," or "produced effectively." It denotes a complete and effectual bringing forth of the stated results.
• in you (ἐν ὑμῖν - en hymin): Locative phrase, showing that these actions were manifested within the Corinthian community and by individual believers.

• what vindication of yourselves (ἀλλὰ σπουδὴν τὶς ἀπολογία - alla spoudēn tis apologia): "Vindication" (ἀπολογία - apologia) means a reasoned defense or an earnest plea. It’s not an excuse but a justification or clearing of one's name by demonstrating a change in behavior and taking corrective action against the wrongdoing in their midst. They showed active efforts to address the scandal.
• what indignation (ἀλλὰ ἀγανάκτησιν - alla aganaktēsin): Refers to strong moral displeasure, resentment, or righteous anger. This indicates they felt genuine offense at the sin and its negative impact, a moral revulsion, not merely annoyance. It was directed against the sin, not just Paul’s rebuke.
• what fear (ἀλλὰ φόβον - alla phobon): This "fear" (φόβος - phobos) is likely a reverential fear of God (that they had offended Him) and perhaps also a healthy fear of Paul’s apostolic authority or the consequences of not taking action. It's a respectful apprehension, leading to careful obedience.
• what longing (ἀλλὰ ἐπιπόθησιν - alla epipothēsin): Signifies an earnest, intense yearning or affectionate desire. This specifically points to their desire for Paul himself, signaling a restoration of their loving relationship with their apostle and a desire for his presence.
• what zeal (ἀλλὰ ζῆλον - alla zēlon): "Zeal" (ζῆλος - zēlos) here denotes fervent passion, enthusiastic diligence, or rivalry for a good cause. They displayed active energy and fervor to set things right, to rectify the wrong and defend God’s truth.
• what punishment of wrong (ἀλλὰ ἐκδίκησιν - alla ekdikēsin): "Punishment of wrong" or "avenging of wrong" (ἐκδίκησιν - ekdikēsin) indicates that they took active measures to execute justice. This likely refers to their disciplining the offending member, perhaps even expelling him as Paul had instructed in 1 Corinthians 5. This signifies practical, decisive action.
• In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter (ἐν παντὶ συνεστήσατε ἑαυτοὺς ἁγνοὺς εἶναι ἐν τῷ πράγματι - en panti synestēsate heautous hagnous einai en tō pragmati): This serves as a concluding statement, summarizing the entire list. "In every way" (ἐν παντὶ - en panti) stresses the comprehensive nature of their transformation. "Proved yourselves" (συνεστήσατε - synestēsate) means "presented yourselves" or "demonstrated." "Innocent" (ἁγνοὺς - hagnous) means morally pure, blameless, or without fault in their handling of the situation. "In this matter" (ἐν τῷ πράγματι - en tō pragmati) specifically refers to the specific scandalous sin and its handling that caused Paul to send his severe letter. They showed purity in their response.

2 Corinthians 7 11 Bonus section

The structure of listing seven specific outcomes ("what... what...") holds significance in biblical thought, often signifying completeness or perfection. In this context, it emphasizes the comprehensive and thorough nature of the Corinthian church's repentance—it wasn't just a partial change but a holistic transformation in response to God's standard. The use of the Greek kai (and) is deliberately avoided after "what" in some textual traditions, allowing each outcome to stand out as a distinct and powerful manifestation rather than merely a continuous flow. This detailed analysis of their actions provided crucial reassurance to Paul regarding their true spiritual condition and future health. The focus is shifted from their original guilt concerning the offense to their present blamelessness in their corrective response to that offense. This verse is also crucial in demonstrating the practical application of church discipline, showing it not as punitive malice but as a necessary, loving act to bring about restoration and vindication for the entire body.

2 Corinthians 7 11 Commentary

2 Corinthians 7:11 is a powerful affirmation of the redemptive fruits of godly sorrow. Paul presents seven distinct characteristics—earnestness, vindication, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and the punishment of wrong—as irrefutable proof of the Corinthians' genuine repentance. This is not merely an enumeration of feelings, but a concise summary of active, transformative responses to sin within the community. Godly sorrow moved them beyond regret to concrete action: they passionately sought to clear their name by confronting the wrongdoing, developed a righteous anger against the sin itself, cultivated a humble awe of God's holiness and Paul's authority, renewed their deep affection for their apostle, and proactively disciplined the unrighteous. Their multifaceted response confirmed their moral innocence and restored integrity in the very "matter" that had caused so much pain, joyfully signaling their reconciliation with Paul and ultimately with God. It illustrates that true repentance manifests not just in internal change but in visible, corporate behavior that aligns with righteousness.

Examples:

• Indignation: A church member witnessing a public sin and speaking against it, not in gossip, but with holy grief and moral objection to protect the church's witness.
• Punishment of wrong: A church following biblical protocols for discipline for unrepentant sin, ensuring the health and purity of the body.
• Longing/Zeal: A prodigal son, after returning to faith, showing intense desire to serve and be in fellowship, eagerly making amends for past wrongs.