1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of theBoth of body and soul, that by this means the sanctification may be perfect, consisting in both the parts of the flesh.flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 He returns again from that admonition to his own person, contrasting with them the testimonies both of his faithfulness and also of his continual good will towards them.Let me have some place among you, that I may teach you.Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not [this] toTo condemn you of unkindness or treachery.condemn [you]: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with [you].
4 I vse great boldnesse of speach toward you: I reioyce greatly in you: I am filled with comfort, and am exceeding ioyous in all our tribulation.
5 For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on euery side, fightings without, and terrours within.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that areWhose hearts are cast down, and are very much worn out.cast down, comforted us by theWith those things which Titus told me of you at his coming, that is, how fruitfully you read over my letters. And moreover and besides that, I am exceedingly refreshed with his presence.coming of Titus;
7 And not by his comming onely, but also by the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you, when he tolde vs your great desire, your mourning, your feruent minde to me warde, so that I reioyced much more.
8 An objection: but you have handled us roughly. The apostle answers that he did not use his roughness without grief. And he adds moreover, that he is also glad now that he drove them to that sorrow even though it was against his will, since it was so profitable to them. For there is a sorrow not only praiseworthy, but also necessary, that is, by which repentance grows by certain degrees: and for this repentance he praises them highly. And this is the fifth part of this epistle.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 toIn that this sorrow did you much good in leading you to amend your obscene behaviour and sins.repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 ForGod's sorrow occurs when we are not terrified with the fear of punishment, but because we feel we have offended God our most merciful Father. Contrary to this there is another sorrow, that only fears punishment, or when a man is vexed for the loss of some worldly goods. The fruit of the first is repentance, and the fruit of the second is desperation, unless the Lord quickly helps.godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 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.
12 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 theIt was neither fake nor counterfeit, but such as I dare give account of before God.sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted, because ye were comforted: but rather we reioyced much more for the ioye of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if that I haue boasted any thing to him of you, I haue not bene ashamed: but as I haue spoken vnto you all things in trueth, euen so our boasting vnto Titus was true.
15 And his inwarde affection is more aboundant toward you, when he remembreth the obedience of you all, and howe with feare and trembling ye receiued him.
16 I reioyce therefore that I may put my confidence in you in all things.
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