2 Corinthians 7:11 “Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness,…”

2 Corinthians 7:11

Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vindication! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.

American Standard Version

For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

Geneva Bible 1599

For beholde, this thing that ye haue bene godly sory, what great care it hath wrought in you: yea, what clearing of yourselues: yea, what indignation: yea, what feare: yea, howe great desire: yea, what a zeale: yea, what reuenge: in all things ye haue shewed your selues, that ye are pure in this matter.

Darby Translation

For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in you, but [what] excusing [of yourselves], but [what] indignation, but [what] fear, but [what] ardent desire, but [what] zeal, but [what] vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

Young's Literal Translation

for, lo, this same thing — your being made sorry toward God — how much diligence it doth work in you! but defence, but displeasure, but fear, but longing desire, but zeal, but revenge; in every thing ye did approve yourselves to be pure in the matter.

Bible in Basic English

For you see what care was produced in you by this very sorrow of yours before God, what clearing of yourselves, what wrath against sin, what fear, what desire, what serious purpose, what punishment. In everything you have made it clear that you are free from sin in this business.

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Cross references

“that”

1 Corinthians 5:2 Isaiah 66:2 Zechariah 12:10–14 2 Corinthians 7:9

1 Corinthians 5:2 · BSB

And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

Isaiah 66:2 · BSB

Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Zechariah 12:10–14 · BSB

Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and gr…

2 Corinthians 7:9 · BSB

yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

“carefulness”

2 Corinthians 7:7 1 Corinthians 12:25 Titus 3:8

2 Corinthians 7:7 · BSB

and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

1 Corinthians 12:25 · BSB

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.

Titus 3:8 · BSB

This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

“clearing”

Ephesians 5:11 1 Corinthians 5:13 Genesis 44:6 Genesis 44:7 1 Timothy 5:21 1 Timothy 5:22

Ephesians 5:11 · BSB

Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Corinthians 5:13 · BSB

God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Genesis 44:6 · BSB

When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.

Genesis 44:7 · BSB

“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

1 Timothy 5:21 · BSB

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

1 Timothy 5:22 · BSB

Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

“indignation”

Ephesians 4:26 2 Samuel 12:5–7 Nehemiah 5:6–13 Nehemiah 13:25 Jeremiah 31:18–20 Daniel 6:14

Ephesians 4:26 · BSB

“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

2 Samuel 12:5–7 · BSB

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

Nehemiah 5:6–13 · BSB

When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

Nehemiah 13:25 · BSB

I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take th…

Jeremiah 31:18–20 · BSB

I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

Daniel 6:14 · BSB

As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.

“fear”

Psalm 2:11 Jude 1:23 2 Corinthians 7:1 Romans 11:20 Philippians 2:12 Hebrews 4:1

Psalm 2:11 · BSB

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Jude 1:23 · BSB

save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

2 Corinthians 7:1 · BSB

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Romans 11:20 · BSB

That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

Philippians 2:12 · BSB

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Hebrews 4:1 · BSB

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

“vehement”

1 Peter 2:2 Psalm 38:9 Psalm 42:1 Psalm 130:6 Psalm 145:19 Song of Solomon 8:6

1 Peter 2:2 · BSB

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Psalm 38:9 · BSB

O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You.

Psalm 42:1 · BSB

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

Psalm 130:6 · BSB

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 145:19 · BSB

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

Song of Solomon 8:6 · BSB

Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

“zeal”

2 Corinthians 9:2 Acts 17:16 Psalm 69:9 Psalm 119:139 John 2:17

2 Corinthians 9:2 · BSB

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

Acts 17:16 · BSB

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

Psalm 69:9 · BSB

because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

Psalm 119:139 · BSB

My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.

John 2:17 · BSB

His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”

“revenge”

Revelation 3:19 Psalm 35:13 Mark 9:43–48 Matthew 5:29 Matthew 5:30

Revelation 3:19 · BSB

Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

Psalm 35:13 · BSB

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

Mark 9:43–48 · BSB

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Matthew 5:29 · BSB

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Matthew 5:30 · BSB

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

“approved”

Romans 14:18 2 Timothy 2:15 2 Corinthians 6:4 2 Corinthians 13:7

Romans 14:18 · BSB

For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

2 Timothy 2:15 · BSB

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

2 Corinthians 6:4 · BSB

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

2 Corinthians 13:7 · BSB

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

Also

2 Corinthians 2:6

2 Corinthians 2:6 · BSB

The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.

Read 2 Corinthians 7