2 Corinthians 7:5
in 2 Corinthians 7For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
KJV
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 7
Commentary
11 notes on this verseAccordingly, when he is going to assign afflictions to the flesh as its especial liability-according to the statement he had already made-he says, "When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest; " then, in order to make the soul a fellow-sufferer with the body, he adds, "We were troubled on every side; without were fightings," which of course warred down the flesh, "within were fears," which afflicted the soul.
This site's exposition
our bodies had no rest
on 2 Corinthians 7:5-7
The arrival in Macedonia picks up the story broken off at 2:13, where Paul searched for Titus. God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus: the God of all comfort of 1:3 comforts by sending a person.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It is because the flesh is irrational that Paul says that it has no rest from its suffering. But the soul, although it was suffering in the body, did have rest. This is because of the hope that God would reward them for the tribulations …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 323 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul had to do battle not only with external foes but also with enemies within the fellowship of the church. He was afraid that believers would be turned away to harmful things.
"For even when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief." For since he said, "our tribulation;" he both explains of what sort it was, and magnifies it by his words, in order to show that the consolation and joys received from them was great, seeing it had repelled so great a sorrow. "But we were afflicted on every side." How on every side? for "without were fightings," from the unbelievers; "within were fears;" because of the weak among the believers, lest they should be drawn aside. For not amongst the Corinthians only did these things happen, but elsewhere also.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, For even when we came, he explains his commendation. But he said that he experienced two things, namely, joy and tribulation. First, therefore, he makes manifest his tribulation; secondly, his consolation (v. 6). He enlarges upon his tribulations for two reasons, …
He speaks of his sorrow and describes it in strong terms, in order to show how great was the joy from them, since it drove away even such sorrow. He well said that the "flesh" had no rest; for the soul of Paul was unconquerable. …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And, besides this, they met with other troubles, with incessant storms of persecutions; 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, lest they should be corrupted or seduced, and give scandal to others, or be scandalized.
For when we were come into Macedonia,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For when we were come into Macedonia - For the reasons which induced Paul to go into Macedonia; see the notes on 2Co 1:16; compare the notes, 2Co 2:12-13. Our flesh had no rest - We were exceedingly distressed and agitated. We had no rest. The causes of his distress he immediately states. But we were troubled on every side - In every way. We had no rest in any quarter. We were obliged to enter into harassing labors and strifes there, and we were full of anxiety in regard to you.
When we were come into Macedonia - St. Paul, having left Ephesus, came to Troas, where he stopped some time; afterwards he came to Macedonia, whence he wrote this epistle, Our flesh had no rest - So exceedingly anxious was he to know the success of his first epistle to them. Without were fightings - The oppositions of pagans, Jews, and false brethren. Within were fears - Uncertain conjectures relative to the success of his epistle; fears lest the severity of it should alienate their affections utterly from him; fears lest the party of the incestuous person should have prevailed; fears lest the teaching of the false apostle should have perverted their minds from the simplicity of the truth; all was uncertainty, all apprehension; and the Spirit of God did not think proper to remove the causes of these apprehensions in any extraordinary way.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐλθόντων | elthonton | when were coming | G2064 → | 628 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | we | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Μακεδονίαν | makedonian | Macedonia | G3109 → | 22 times |
| οὐδεμίαν | oudemian | none | G3762 → | 232 times |
| ἔσχηκεν | escheken | did have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἄνεσιν | anesin | rest | G425 → | 5 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σὰρξ | sarx | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| παντὶ | panti | every [way] | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| θλιβόμενοι· | thlibomenoi | we are being pressed: | G2346 → | 10 times |
| ἔξωθεν | exothen | outside | G1855 → | |
| μάχαι, | machai | conflicts, | G3163 → | |
| ἔσωθεν | esothen | within | G2081 → | |
| φόβοι. | phoboi | fears. | G5401 → | 46 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐλθόντωνwhen were coming
elthontonG2064 →628 times
ἡμῶνwe
hemonG3165 →1936 times
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ΜακεδονίανMacedonia
makedonianG3109 →22 times
οὐδεμίανnone
oudemianG3762 →232 times
ἔσχηκενdid have
eschekenG2192 →707 times
ἄνεσινrest
anesinG425 →5 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
σὰρξflesh
sarxG4561 →146 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
παντὶevery [way]
pantiG3956 →1235 times
θλιβόμενοι·we are being pressed:
thlibomenoiG2346 →10 times
ἔξωθενoutside
exothenG1855 →
μάχαι,conflicts,
machaiG3163 →
ἔσωθενwithin
esothenG2081 →
φόβοι.fears.
phoboiG5401 →46 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in…
it leads to
- James 1:13–14
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
- Matthew 4:3
The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:11
in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
- James 1:13–14
Through
2 Corinthians 2:13I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:5–6
For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
- 2 Corinthians 12:18
I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
- 2 Corinthians 7:5–6
Through
Deuteronomy 32:25Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 7:15
The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.
- Lamentations 1:20
See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death.
- Ezekiel 7:15
Through
Acts 20:1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:3
As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines
- 1 Timothy 1:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 14 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 323; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.