2 Corinthians 7:1
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The exhortation to 'cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God' draws together the preceding promises of 6:16-18 (God dwelling among his people, the new Exodus of 'come out from them') into a practical demand. The Levitical purity language — 'defilement,' 'cleansing,' 'holiness' — is applied to the whole person (body and spirit), refusing the Corinthian dualism that would restrict spiritual concerns to the inner life alone. The phrase 'perfecting holiness in the fear of God' (epitelountes hagiōsynēn) implies process rather than achievement: holiness is being completed, not yet complete. The verse is important for understanding Pauline ethics as temple theology: the Spirit-indwelt community is the new temple (6:16), and temple purity is therefore obligatory.
Other Translations
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;
Because God, then, will give us such rewards, dear brothers, let us make ourselves clean from all evil of flesh and spirit, and become completely holy in the fear of God.
Cross References
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and …
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body …
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of …
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye …
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see …
I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in …
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within …