ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 6 v18

PUTTING UP BARRIERS. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Paul is prophetic in telling us to put up a barrier, not between ourselves and the married but between ourselves and the Gentiles who are still living immorally, and also from those heresies which believe neither in chastity nor in God. STROMATEIS 3.73.4.

RECEIVED AS CHILDREN. AMBROSIASTER: God wants us to be set apart from all contamination so that he can receive us as his children. By this testimony Paul exhorts us to a pure life. He shows that Jesus Christ was already our Lord in ancient times and was predestined to receive us in the fondness of his love. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

PAUL’S AGONY FOR THE CORINTHIANS 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1-12

OVERVIEW: Paul paid no attention to the pain of the lashes or the rope with which his feet were bound. Forgetting his sufferings, Paul thanked God for the godly sorrow of the church at Corinth (CHRYSOSTOM, BASIL), viewing it as a kind of reward for his troubles (AMBROSIASTER). Worldly sorrow, on the other hand, which regrets the loss of money, reputation and friends, merely leads to greater harm (AMBROSE, BASIL, CHRYSOSTOM, AUGUSTINE). Paul had to do battle not only with external foes but also with enemies within the church and fears within and fatigue (THEODORET OF CYR), but he was not afflicted in the spirit (AMBROSIASTER). It is always a great comfort, when we are suffering, to have someone near us who can share it with us (AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM), as happened with the coming of Titus. He was consoled by the Corinthians to such an extent that in spite of all his affliction he was overflowing with joy (AMBROSIASTER). He reminded them that not touching unclean things is not enough to make them clean (CHRYSOSTOM). Believers are called to cleanse themselves of every defilement (AMBROSIASTER) of the flesh and the spirit (BASIL, THEODORET OF CYR).

2 Cor