2 Corinthians 7:10

2 Corinthians 7:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
• New International Version (NIV)Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Context of 2 Corinthians 7:10

8For even if I grieved you with my letter, I don’t regret it. And if I regretted it — since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a while — 9I now rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death. 11For consider how much diligence this very thing — this grieving as God wills — has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter. 12So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your devotion to us might be made plain to you in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 7:10 word by word

ἡ γὰρ κατὰ θεὸν λύπη μετάνοιαν εἰς σωτηρίαν ἀμεταμέλητον ἐργάζεται, ἡ δὲ τοῦ κόσμου λύπη θάνατον κατεργάζεται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ·κατάkata · according toG2596
• godlyθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• sorrowλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• workethκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
• repentanceμετάνοιαmetanoia · repentanceG3341
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• salvationσωτηρίαsōtēria · salvationG4991
• not to be repented ofἀμεταμέλητοςametamelētos · irrevocableG278
• butδέde · thenG1161
• of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 7:10

• 2 Corinthians 12:21I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.
• 2 Samuel 12:13David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.
• 1 Kings 8:47and when they come to their senses in the land where they were deported and repent and petition you in their captors’ land: “We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,”
• Job 33:27He will look at men and say, “I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
• Jeremiah 31:9They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble, for I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
• Ezekiel 7:16The survivors among them will escape and live on the mountains. Like doves of the valley, all of them will moan, each over his own iniquity.
• Ezekiel 18:27But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.
• Jonah 3:8Furthermore, both people and animals must be covered with sackcloth, and everyone must call out earnestly to God. Each must turn from his evil ways and from his wrongdoing.
• Matthew 21:28“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’
• Matthew 26:75and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
• Luke 15:10I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
• Luke 18:13“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner! ’
• Acts 3:19Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out,
• Acts 11:18When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”
• 2 Timothy 2:25instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
• Genesis 4:13But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear!

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 7:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10For godly sorrow - That which has the breach of God's holy law for its object. Worketh repentance - A thorough change of mind unto salvation, because the person who feels it cannot rest till he finds pardon through the mercy of God. But the sorrow of the world worketh death - Sorrow for lost goods, lost friends, death of relatives, etc., when it is poignant and deep, produces diseases, increases those that already exist, and often leads men to lay…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10For godly sorrow - “Sorrow according to God” ( ̔ ̀ ̀ ̀ ́ Hē gar kata Theon lupē). That is, such sorrow as has respect to God, or is according to his will, or as leads the soul to him. This is a very important expression in regard to true repentance, and shows the exact nature of that sorrow which is connected with a return to God. The phrase may be regarded as implying the following things: (1) Such sorrow as God approves, or such as is suitable to. or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 There were fightings without, or continual contentions with, and opposition from Jews and Gentiles; and there were fears within, and great concern for such as had embraced the Christian faith. But God comforts those who are cast down. We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, to God, as the author of all the consolation and good we enjoy. Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10There are two types of sorrow: Worldly sorrow, which does not include repentance, leads to spiritual death (for example, see Matthew 27:3–6; Hebrews 12:16–17). Sorrow that turns us away from sin leads to salvation, as demonstrated when the church in Corinth responded positively to Paul's criticism.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. worketh ... worketh--In the best Greek reading the translation is, "worketh (simply) ... worketh out." "Sorrow" is not repentance, but, where it is "godly," "worketh" it; that is, contributes or tends to it (the same Greek word is in Ro 13:10). The "sorrow of the world" (that is, such as is felt by the worldly) "worketh out," as its result at last, (eternal) death (the same Greek verb is in 2Co 4:17; also see on 2Co 4:17). repentance ... not to be…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 7:10

• Repentance
• Righteousness
• Salvation
• Sorrow
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Boldness
• Clearing
• Confidence
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Defraud
• Fighting
• Filthiness
• Indignation
• Repentance
• Salvation

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings