2 Corinthians 7 in the early church

133 passages quote, allude to, or echo 2 Corinthians 7, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16

2 Corinthians 7:1

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:1	To Autolycus 1.2 · Theophilus of Antioch	echo, medium confidence	ca. 180–185
2 Cor 7:1	Miscellanies 3.8.62 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:1	Miscellanies 3.11.74 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:1	Miscellanies 4.21.131 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:1	Against Marcion 5.12 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
2 Cor 7:1	On Modesty 15 · Tertullian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 210–220
2 Cor 7:1	Homilies on Exodus 3.3 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:1	Homilies on Exodus 11.7 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:1	Homilies on Joshua 9.2 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:1	Homilies on Leviticus 6.4 · Origen	allusion, low confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:1	Homilies on Leviticus 13.5 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:1	Lepr. 14 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd cent. (disputed)
2 Cor 7:1	Moral Rules (Moralia) 2 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Cor 7:1	Moral Rules (Moralia) 80 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Cor 7:1	Oration 11.4 · Gregory of Nazianzus	quotation, high confidence	ca. 362–383
2 Cor 7:1	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:1 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:1	Apostolic Constitutions 7.39.4 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
2 Cor 7:1	Apostolic Constitutions 8.6.6 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
2 Cor 7:1	Apostolic Constitutions 8.9.3 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
2 Cor 7:1	Apostolic Constitutions 8.13.9 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
2 Cor 7:1	Apostolic Constitutions 8.20.2 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
2 Cor 7:1	On Virgins 3.4 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 377
2 Cor 7:1	Eleven Tractates 4.77 · Priscillian	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 380–385
2 Cor 7:1	Tractates on Matthew 3.6 · Chromatius of Aquileia	allusion, high confidence	ca. 388–407
2 Cor 7:1	Homily 7 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 390–394
2 Cor 7:1	Sermon 45.1 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:1	Sermon 45.6 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:1	Sermon 45.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:1	Sermon 45.9 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:1	Sermon 45.10 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:1	Sermon 346.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:1–2	On Christian Doctrine 3.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	Books 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427
2 Cor 7:1	Tractates 9 · Gaudentius of Brescia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 397-410

2 Corinthians 7:2

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:2	Against Heresies 4.26.4 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
2 Cor 7:2	Oration 42.18 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362–383
2 Cor 7:2	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:2 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:2	Exposition of Psalm 118 12.52.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:2	Homilies on Matthew 32.7 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390

2 Corinthians 7:3

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:3	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:3 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:3	Letters 20.1 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
2 Cor 7:3	Letters 40.2 · Paulinus of Nola	echo, medium confidence	ca. 394–413

2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:4	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:4 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Corinthians 7:5

For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:5	On the Resurrection of the Flesh 40 · Tertullian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 208–212
2 Cor 7:5	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:5 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:5	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:1–2 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:5–7	Letter 120.11 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 Cor 7:5	On the Duties of the Clergy 1.36 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–390
2 Cor 7:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 5.39.3 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 8.40.1 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 15.27.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 20.46.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:5	Letter 78.7 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386–430
2 Cor 7:5	Letter 78.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386–430
2 Cor 7:5	Homilies on Matthew 59.1 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:5	Homilies on Matthew 75.1 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:5	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.28.1 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397
2 Cor 7:5	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 40.40.1 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397
2 Cor 7:5	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 45.3.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397
2 Cor 7:5	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 45.22.1 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397
2 Cor 7:5	Letters 24.22 · Paulinus of Nola	quotation, high confidence	ca. 394–413
2 Cor 7:5	Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.54 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 398–400
2 Cor 7:5	City of God 14.9 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	413–426
2 Cor 7:5	Sermon 21 · Peter Chrysologus	quotation, high confidence	ca. 425-450

2 Corinthians 7:6

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:6	Letter 127 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 357–378
2 Cor 7:6–7	Moral Rules (Moralia) 1 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Cor 7:6	Oration 4.13 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
2 Cor 7:6	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:6 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:6	Exposition of Psalm 118 5.39.3 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:6	Letter 149.1 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386–430
2 Cor 7:6	Letters 18.2 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
2 Cor 7:6	Letters 19.1 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 394–413

2 Corinthians 7:7

and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:7–9	Moral Rules (Moralia) 5 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Cor 7:7	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:7 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:7	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:8 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Corinthians 7:8

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it—for I see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time—
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:8–10	Moral Rules (Moralia) 72 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Cor 7:8	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:8 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:8	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:9 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:8	City of God 14.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	413–426

2 Corinthians 7:9

yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:9	Miscellanies 4.21.131 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:9	Three Letters to Sympronianus 1.5 · Pacian of Barcelona	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-390
2 Cor 7:9	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:9 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:9–10	On Paradise 75 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 375-378
2 Cor 7:9	Canons on the Letters of Paul 77 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–400
2 Cor 7:9	Exposition of Psalm 118 7.18.3 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:9	On what sort of wives to marry, section 1 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:9	City of God 14.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	413–426

2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:10	Shepherd of Hermas, Mandate 10.2.4 (41.4) · Hermas	echo, medium confidence	ca. 100–150
2 Cor 7:10	Miscellanies 2.13.57 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, medium confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:10	Miscellanies 4.21.131 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on John 10.102 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 230–248
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on John 28.26 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 230–248
2 Cor 7:10	Homily on Isaiah 4 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 235–250
2 Cor 7:10	Homilies on Psalms 36-38 6.5 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:10	Homilies on Psalms 36-38 8.7 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 77 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 117 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Matthew 15.15 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 246–248
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Matthew 15.16 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 246–248
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Matthew 15.19 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 246–248
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Romans 6.14 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on Romans 9.15 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
2 Cor 7:10	Lepr. 6 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd cent. (disputed)
2 Cor 7:10	Letter to Zenas and Serenus 18 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	4th century (disputed)
2 Cor 7:10	Homilies on the Psalms 1.2 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360-378
2 Cor 7:10	Three Letters to Sympronianus 1.5 · Pacian of Barcelona	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-390
2 Cor 7:10	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:10 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:10	On the Soul and the Resurrection, Migne page 57 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 379–380
2 Cor 7:10	On the Beatitudes 1219 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–394
2 Cor 7:10	On Jacob and the Happy Life 1.31 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-390
2 Cor 7:10	Exposition of Psalm 118 7.18.4 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-397
2 Cor 7:10	Homilies on Matthew 15.2 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:10	On what sort of wives to marry, section 1 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:10	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 38.16.4 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397
2 Cor 7:10	Sermon 254.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:10	Sermon 254.4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Cor 7:10	Letters 13.10 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
2 Cor 7:10	City of God 14.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	413–426
2 Cor 7:10	The Institutes 7.3 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Cor 7:10	The Institutes 9.10 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Cor 7:10	The Conferences 5.23 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 426–429
2 Cor 7:10	The Conferences 9.12 · John Cassian	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 426–429
2 Cor 7:10	The Conferences 21.8 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 426–429

2 Corinthians 7:11

Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:11	Miscellanies 4.21.131 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Cor 7:11	Moral Rules (Moralia) 1 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Cor 7:11	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:11 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Cor 7:11	Homilies on Matthew 2.5 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:11	Homilies on Matthew 16.6 · John Chrysostom	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 390
2 Cor 7:11	City of God 14.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	413–426

2 Corinthians 7:12

So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:12	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:12 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Corinthians 7:13

On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:13	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:13 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Corinthians 7:14

Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:14	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:14 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Corinthians 7:15

And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:15	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:15 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Corinthians 7:16

I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Cor 7:16	Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:16 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384