2 Corinthians 7:1
What does 2 Corinthians 7:1 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 7:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 7:1 means
Because God has pledged to dwell with His people and to receive them as His own, Paul urges believers to respond by pursuing a thorough holiness. Cleansing “flesh and spirit” means dealing both with outward behaviors and inward attitudes. Holiness is not a moment but a maturing—“perfecting” it—shaped by a reverent awareness of God. The call is not to earn God’s promises but to live in harmony with them. Since God claims us as His beloved, we turn from every stain that would grieve Him or dull our fellowship. Grace brings obligation: the Father’s welcome compels the children’s consecration. Such sanctification reaches to every corner of life, where reverence for God steers our choices.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because God, then, will give us such rewards, dear brothers, let us make ourselves clean from all evil of flesh and spirit, and become completely holy in the fear of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness inGod's fear.
Context
This opening command flows directly from the promises Paul has just rehearsed about God’s presence and fatherly acceptance. It serves as the moral hinge between separation from defilement and the renewed relationship Paul seeks with the Corinthians. Before addressing their affection toward him and recounting his recent trials, Paul first reaffirms the foundational ethic of the Christian life. Only then does he move into appeals for restored trust and the story of how God comforted him through Titus and the Corinthians’ repentance.
v.1This passage
v.2Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 8:13
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
- Matthew 12:33
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.
- Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
- Romans 5:20
And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
- 1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
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