This indicates that this verse is a conclusion to the last part of ch. 6, 2 Cor. 6:14-18.

The promises mentioned in 2 Cor. 6:16-18.

Defilement of flesh is related to being defiled by material things; defilement of spirit, to being defiled by things in the spiritual world, such as idols.

Holiness is separation unto God from all things other than Him (see note Rom. 1:2³ in and note Eph. 1:4^3c). To perfect holiness is to make this separation full and perfect, to have our entire being — spirit, soul, and body — fully and perfectly separated, sanctified, unto God (1 Thes. 5:23). This is to be fully reconciled to God.

Not daring to touch things that do not belong to God or are not related to Him (2 Cor. 6:17).

The frank exhortation from 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1 is given parenthetically to bring the distracted believers back to their holy God from their touching of defiling things that they might be fully reconciled to Him. Hence, this verse is actually a continuation of 2 Cor. 6:11-13, entreating the believers to have their heart enlarged toward the apostles, to make room for the apostles. From this verse to the end of this chapter, the apostle in his entreating expressed his intimate concern for the believers, that they might be consoled and encouraged to go on positively with the Lord after being fully reconciled to Him.

First, have wronged no one; then, have corrupted no one; and last, have taken advantage of no one.

The expression of an intimate relationship.

Lit., the comfort, the joy; pointing to the particular comfort, the particular joy, brought by Titus.

Referring to the outer man, which includes the body and the soul (see note 2 Cor. 4:16^1c) — the fightings without and the fears within involve the body and the soul. Having no rest in the flesh differs from having no rest in the spirit (2 Cor. 2:13).

Lit., humble; derivatively, downcast (because of oppressive circumstances).

Because of his deep concern for the Corinthian believers' response to his first Epistle, the apostle, having had no rest in his spirit (2 Cor. 2:13) and even being heavily downcast, was anxious to see Titus to obtain information concerning the Corinthians' response. Now Titus not only came but also brought glad news of their positive response. This was a great comfort to the apostle.

Lit., presence. So also in the next verse.

Referring to the apostle's first Epistle to the Corinthians.

This indicates that the apostle was not only bold and frank in rebuking the believers in his first Epistle, but was also tender and soft toward them.

This shows that the apostle's first Epistle to the believers had an effect on them.

This was the result the apostle sought in writing his first Epistle.

The apostle's first Epistle made the Corinthians sorrowful according to God, not sorrowful for anything else. This indicates that they had been brought back, reconciled, to God.

Referring to being reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20), resulting in more life, which is versus death. Through this the apostle saw the fruit of his first Epistle to the believers.

Or, diligence. Referring to the earnest care of the repentant Corinthian believers toward the apostle, which arose because of his loving concern for their relationship with God and their condition before God. Formerly, they had been careless with regard to the apostle's concern; now in repentance they became careful and earnest regarding it. So also in v. 12.

Or, produced. All seven results produced by the repentant sorrow of the Corinthian believers, as listed in this verse, were a rich reaping from the apostle's first Epistle to them.

Occurring six times in this verse and meaning not only that, but also.

Or, vindication, clearing of yourselves; referring to the Corinthian believers' vindicating of themselves to Paul through Titus, proving their innocence regarding the offense.

Indignation at the offense and against the offender.

Fear of the apostle, who might come with a rod (1 Cor. 4:21).

Longing for the apostle. The repentant believers feared the apostle, yet they also had a longing for him.

Zeal to mete out a just punishment to the offender.

I.e., the meting out of justice, the doing of justice to all parties as disciplinary punishment (2 Cor. 2:6).

The last six results of the repentant sorrow that is according to God fall into three pairs, the first relating to the Corinthian believers' feelings of shame, the second to the apostle, and the third to the offender (Bengel). Wuest's translation also indicates this by the expression "Yes,...in fact," which is used three times as follows: "Yes, verbal defense of yourselves, in fact, indignation, yes, fear, in fact, longing, yes, zeal, in fact, the meting out of disciplinary punishment."

Referring to the matter of incest, which was condemned by the apostle in 2 Cor. 5 of the first Epistle.

The incestuous brother (1 Cor. 5:1).

The father of the incestuous brother.

The Corinthian believers did love the apostles and did have earnest care toward them, but they had been turned aside by false teachers. Hence, the apostle wrote the first Epistle to bring them back, that their love and earnest care toward the apostles might be made manifest to them.

This indicates that the apostle was very human and emotional in his ministering of life.

This major section, from 2:12—7:16, concerning the apostles' ministry of the new covenant and concerning themselves as the ministers of the new covenant, begins with the apostle's being anxious to meet Titus because of his loving concern for the Corinthian believers (2 Cor. 2:13), and ends with his being comforted and cheered by Titus's coming with positive news concerning the Corinthians.

This proves that even though the apostles were human and emotional, they still remained in their spirit in their ministering of life.

Lit., bowels. The same Greek word as for inward parts in 2 Cor. 6:12. See note Phil. 1:8^1c.

Or, am confident in you. Now the apostle was encouraged by the Corinthian believers and could have confidence in them.