Verse 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.
What are the promises? Remember that chapter divisions and the numbering of verses were added around 1227 A.D. and so the content of each epistle which was originally read as one continuous document has been divided up and not necessarily in the best places. Therefore one has to return to the previous chapter to be reminded of the promises. So the promises from God are 1. He will dwell in His people, 2. He will walk in them, 3. He will be their God, 4. they shall be His people, 5. and He will receive His people. Furthermore, 6. He will be a Father unto His people and 7. His people shall be His sons and daughters. Notice that there are 7 promises and that the number 7 in Scripture denotes divine perfection.
Application: If a head of state, a royal, or some other world leader made some promises to people, no doubt they would be thoroughly excited and feel honored to be recognized by someone of wealth, power, and worldly position. Yet most people reject the love of the LORD God whose promises are so precious and so amazing and so powerful. To be a son or daughter of the LORD Jesus is to have spiritual power, protection, provision, guidance, a spiritual family of saints and angels, and the promise of life eternal.
Because the LORD gives all to His children, they need to give all to Him which includes the cessation of purposeful sinning and a daily effort to become more and more like Jesus: to set aside the things of the world, the flesh and the temptations of the Devil and to reject anything that can come between them and the LORD so that they are holy or separate from unbelievers. Remember that the Apostle Paul had sent a previous letter of chastisement to this church because of the sin they were allowing to ocurr and remain in their congregation. This previous letter most likely was upsetting to them, but it contained what they needed to hear, and now he was again urging them to purify themselves and to remain holy unto the LORD.
Verses 2-4 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
The Apostle Paul wants the Corinthians to receive him and his co-workers when they return to their city as they have not done anything wrong and they have not condemned those who are sinning, but have purposefully made every effort to help these believers perfect their faith in Jesus Christ and to become the servants of God they are called to be.
Verses 5-7 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
The apostles continually experienced persecution and troubling times as they traveled about establishing churches and revisiting those already established. Here the Apostle Paul recounts a time of great difficulty in which they were comforted by the coming of their co-worker, Titus, who not only arrived to help cheer and comfort them, but who also brought a good report of the Corinthian church. Apparently the believers in Corinth were remorseful regarding those things they were doing that the Apostle Paul had needed to correct in his previous epistle and they were maintaining a positive attitude towards the apostles.
Verses 8-9 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
The Apostle Paul took no pleasure in chastising the Corinthians, and he was saddened when he had to do so. But he recognized that their temporary upset at his letter caused them to repent and to correct the path they were traveling down so that they could remain in right relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 10-11 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 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.
The sorrow the Corinthians felt as a result of the correction from the Apostle Paul was necessary so that repentance could occur and salvation could be secure. Having sorrow because of that which is godly was a good thing. But having sorrow related to the world and its evil does nothing to secure salvation and only leads to spiritual death and Hell. So godly repentance has stages which believers go through. First the repentance leads believers to careful consideration of thoughts, words, and actions and when found to be sinful, change is deliberately made. Then after seeking forgiveness from the LORD, believers are made spiritually clean once again and the weight of sin is removed. The seeking of forgiveness is due to a healthy fear of an all powerful God who then gives believers through His Holy Ghost/Spirit a deep desire to not fall back into the trap of the sin they have just repented of.
Verses 12-13 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
The Apostle Paul states that his first epistle was not written for the man sinning or for those affected by his actions, but was written because he was the shepherd of this flock in the Corinthian church and therefore had the God given responsibility to care for them. And, hopefully, they realized that he was only doing the chastising in order to help them. However, if proper church discipline as recorded in Matthew 18 was carried out, then the man causing the problems and those affected by him should also have been helped. He then lets them know that he was very happy that they were hospitable and receptive of his co-worker, Titus, when he visited the Corinthian church.
Verses 14-16 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. (2 Corinthians 7)
Apparently the Apostle Paul had spoken highly of the Corinthian church to Titus, and they had not disappointed him in that Titus found what Paul had said about them to be true. Therefore the Apostle Paul states that he has complete confidence in them.