God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 7:10
10In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death.
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
8If my letter made you uncomfortable, I’m not sorry. But since my letter did make you uncomfortable for a while, I was sorry. 9But I’m happy now, not because I made you uncomfortable, but because the distress I caused you has led you to change the way you think and act. You were distressed in a godly way, so we haven’t done you any harm. In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death. 11When you became distressed in a godly way, look at how much devotion it caused you to have. You were ready to clear yourselves of the charges against you. You were disgusted with the wrong that had been done. You were afraid. You wanted to see us. You wanted to show your concern for us. You were ready to punish the wrong that had been done. In every way you have demonstrated that you are people who are innocent in this matter. 12So, when I wrote to you, I didn’t write because of the man who did the wrong or the man who was hurt by it. Rather, I wrote because I wanted you to show your devotion to us in God’s sight.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 72 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’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.
- 2 Samuel 12:13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.
- 1 Kings 8:47If they come to their senses, are sorry for what they’ve done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked,’
- Job 33:27Each one sings in front of other people and says, ‘I sinned and did wrong instead of what was right, and it did me no good.
- Jeremiah 31:9They will cry as they return. They will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams on a level path where they will not stumble. I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be my firstborn.
- Ezekiel 7:16Those who survive will escape to the mountains. They will moan like doves in the valleys. They will moan because of their sins.
- Ezekiel 18:27When a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that he has done and does what is fair and right, he will live.
- Jonah 3:8Every person and animal must put on sackcloth. Cry loudly to God for help. Turn from your wicked ways and your acts of violence.
- Matthew 21:28“What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’
- Matthew 26:75Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.
- Luke 15:10So I can guarantee that God’s angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.”
- Luke 18:13“But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
- Acts 3:19So change the way you think and act, and turn ⌞to God⌟ to have your sins removed.
- Acts 11:18When the others heard this, they had no further objections. They praised God by saying, “Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life.”
- 2 Timothy 2:25He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth.
- Genesis 4:13But Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can stand!
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
In the dictionaries
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
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