2 Corinthians 7:1

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.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Having	ἔχοντες echontes	G2192	to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
therefore	οὖν oun	G3767	(adverbially) certainly · conjunction
these	Ταύτας Tautas	G3778	the he (she or it) · demonstrative pronoun — accusative plural feminine
promises	ἐπαγγελίας, epangelias	G1860	an announcement (for information · noun — accusative plural feminine
beloved	ἀγαπητοί, agapētoi	G27	beloved · adjective — vocative plural masculine
cleanse	καθαρίσωμεν katharisōmen	G2511	to cleanse (literally or figuratively) · verb — aorist active subjunctive, 1st person plural
ourselves	ἑαυτοὺς he'autous	G1438	him- (her- · reflexive pronoun
from	ἀπὸ apo	G575	"off · preposition
all	παντὸς pantos	G3956	all · adjective — genitive singular masculine
filthiness	μολυσμοῦ molusmou	G3436	a stain · noun — genitive singular masculine
flesh	σαρκὸς sarkos	G4561	flesh (as stripped of the skin) · noun — genitive singular feminine
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
spirit	πνεύματος pneumatos	G4151	a current of air · noun — genitive singular neuter
perfecting	ἐπιτελοῦντες epitelountes	G2005	to fulfill further (or completely) · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
holiness	ἁγιωσύνην hagiōsunēn	G42	sacredness (i.e. properly · noun — accusative singular feminine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
fear	φόβῳ phobō	G5401	alarm or fright · noun — dative singular masculine
God	θεοῦ.¶ theou	G2316	figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Ezekiel 36:25-26 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
2 Peter 1:4-8 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped th…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 7:1-4

These verses contain a double exhortation: - I. To make a progress in holiness, or to perfect holiness in the fear of God, Co2 7:1. This exhortation is given with most tender affection to those who were dearly beloved, and enforced by strong arguments, even the consideration of those exceedingly great and precious promises which were mentioned in the former chapter, and which the Corinthians had an interest in and a title to. The promises of God are strong inducements to sanctification, in both the branches thereof; namely, 1. The dying unto sin, or mortifying our lusts and corruptions: we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Sin is filthiness, and there are defil…

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Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises - The promises mentioned in the three last verses of the preceding chapter, to which this verse should certainly be joined. Let us cleanse ourselves - Let us apply to him for the requisite grace of purification; and avoid every thing in spirit and practice which is opposite to the doctrine of God, and which has a tendency to pollute the soul. Filthiness of the flesh - The apostle undoubtedly means, drunkenness, fornication, adultery, and all such sins as are done immediately against the body; and by filthiness of the spirit, all impure desires, unholy thoughts, and polluting imaginations. If we avoid and abhor evil inclinations, and turn away our eyes from beh…

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John Gill on 2 Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises,.... That God will walk in his temple, and dwell in his churches, be their God, and they his people, that he will receive them, and be their Father, and they his sons and daughters; which promises they had not in hope, as Old Testament saints had the promises of the Messiah and his kingdom, and as New Testament saints have of the resurrection, the new heavens and new earth, and of appearing with Christ in glory; but in hand, in actual possession; for God was really become their God and Father, and they were his people and children; they had had communion with him, and were received, protected, and preserved by him; which promises and blessings of grace, and wh…

The Church Fathers

Paul uses the word spirit in this verse to mean "soul."
— Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 322

Here we are instructed to marvel at the unspeakable benevolence of God in Christ Jesus and with the greater fear to cleanse ourselves of every defilement of the flesh and the spirit.
— Basil of Caesarea, CONCERNING BAPTISM 1.2

When also he (in a later passage) enjoins us "to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and blood" (since this substance enters not the kingdom of Gods ); when, again, he "espouses the church as a chaste virgin to Christ," a spouse to a spouse in very deed, an image cannot be combined and compared with what is opposed to the real nature the thing (with which it is compared).
— Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Fear of the Lord the — Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial…
Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph.…
Ablution · FIGURATIVE — FIGURATIVE
Adoption · Should lead to holiness — Should lead to holiness
Conduct, Christian · Perfecting holiness — Perfecting holiness
Fear, Godly · Necessary to: Perfecting holiness — Necessary to: Perfecting holiness
Holiness · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Perfection · UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO — UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO
Privileges Of Saints · Having: The promises of God — Having: The promises of God
Promises Of God, The · Subjects of: Adoption — Subjects of: Adoption
Reverence · 4:10;5:29;6:2,13;10:12,20,21;13:4;14:23;28:49,58; — 4:10;5:29;6:2,13;10:12,20,21;13:4;14:23;28:49,58;

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

2 Corinthians 7:1

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 7:1-4

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 7:1

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 7:1

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

2 Corinthians 7:1

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 7:1-4

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 7:1

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 7:1

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 2 Corinthians 7:1

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Corinthians 7:1