2 Corinthians 7:9

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Acts 20:21 : 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
  • 2 Cor 13:8-9 : 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. 9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. 10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority– the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
  • 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
  • 2 Cor 2:16 : 16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
  • 2 Cor 7:6-7 : 6 But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 7 We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.
  • 2 Cor 7:10-11 : 10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death. 11 For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
  • 2 Cor 10:8-9 : 8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so. 9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, 10 because some say,“His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.”
  • Ps 38:18 : 18 Yes, I confess my wrongdoing, and I am concerned about my sins.
  • Eccl 7:3 : 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.
  • Isa 6:9-9 : 9 He said,“Go and tell these people:‘Listen continually, but don’t understand! Look continually, but don’t perceive!’ 10 Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.” 11 I replied,“How long, Lord?” He said,“Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,
  • Jer 31:18-20 : 18 I have indeed heard the people of Israel say mournfully,‘We were like a calf untrained to the yoke. You disciplined us and we learned from it. Let us come back to you and we will do so, for you are the LORD our God. 19 For after we turned away from you we repented. After we came to our senses we struck our thigh in sorrow. We are ashamed and humiliated because of the disgraceful things we did previously.’ 20 Indeed, the people of Israel are my dear children. They are the children I take delight in. For even though I must often rebuke them, I still remember them with fondness. So I am deeply moved with pity for them and will surely have compassion on them. I, the LORD, affirm it!
  • Zech 12:10 : 10 “I will pour out on the kingship of David and the population of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication so that they will look to me, the one they have pierced. They will lament for him as one laments for an only son, and there will be a bitter cry for him like the bitter cry for a firstborn.
  • Luke 15:7 : 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
  • Luke 15:10 : 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
  • Luke 15:17-24 : 17 But when he came to his senses he said,‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. 21 Then his son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves,‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again– he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
  • Luke 15:32 : 32 It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Cor 7:7-8
    2 verses
    88%

    7We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.

    8For even if I made you sad by my letter, I do not regret having written it(even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad, though only for a short time).

  • 2 Cor 7:10-13
    4 verses
    85%

    10For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.

    11For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

    12So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God.

    13Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit.

  • 2 Cor 2:1-7
    7 verses
    80%

    1So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit.

    2For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad?

    3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.

    4For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.

    5But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent(not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well.

    6This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him,

    7so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.

  • Rom 9:2
    73%

    2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

  • 1 Pet 1:6
    73%

    6This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

  • 1 Thess 1:6-7
    2 verses
    72%

    6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.

    7As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

  • Jas 4:9
    72%

    9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.

  • 2 Cor 7:2-4
    3 verses
    72%

    2Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.

    3I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.

    4A Letter That Caused Sadness I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.

  • 2 Cor 12:13
    72%

    13For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

  • 1 Thess 3:7
    72%

    7So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith.

  • 2 Cor 1:6-8
    3 verses
    72%

    6But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

    7And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

    8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

  • Phlm 1:7
    71%

    7I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

  • Eccl 7:3
    71%

    3Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.

  • Phil 2:27-28
    2 verses
    71%

    27In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him– and not to him only, but also to me– so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

    28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.

  • Phil 2:18
    70%

    18And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

  • 1 Thess 3:9
    70%

    9For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God?

  • 2 Cor 1:4
    70%

    4who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

  • 2 Cor 7:16
    70%

    16I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.

  • Acts 8:22-23
    2 verses
    70%

    22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart.

    23For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin.”

  • 2 Cor 2:9
    70%

    9For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.

  • 2 Cor 9:7
    70%

    7Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.

  • 2 Cor 1:12
    70%

    12Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

  • 2 Cor 11:7
    70%

    7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge?

  • 1 Pet 4:13
    70%

    13But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.

  • Heb 12:11
    69%

    11Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

  • John 16:20
    69%

    20I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.

  • Rom 12:15
    69%

    15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

  • 2 Thess 1:5
    69%

    5Encouragement in Persecution This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.

  • 2 Cor 8:13
    69%

    13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

  • 2 Cor 10:8
    69%

    8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.

  • Phil 4:10
    69%

    10Appreciation for Support I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me.(Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

  • John 16:22
    69%

    22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

  • 2 Cor 6:10
    69%

    10as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.