2 Corinthians 7 · Verse 5

2 Corinthians 7:5

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.

2 Corinthians 7:5, King James Version

2 Corinthians 7:5 in other translations

BSB	For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
WEB	For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.
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.
YLT	for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without are fightings, within--fears;
DARBY	For indeed, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way; without combats, within fears.
BBE	For even when we had come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; there were fightings outside and fears inside.
Webster	For, when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

What does 2 Corinthians 7:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. Greek, "For also" (for "even"). This verse is thus connected with 2Co 2:12, 13, "When I came to Troas, I had no rest in my spirit"; so "also" now, when I came to Macedonia, my "flesh" had no rest (he, by the term "flesh," excepts his spiritual consolations) from "fightings" with adversaries "without" (1Co 5:12), and from fears for the Corinthian believers "within" the Church, owing to "false brethren" (2Co 11:26). Compare 2Co 4:8; De 32:25, to which he seems to allude.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. For, when we were come into Macedonia. For the reasons which induced Paul to go into Macedonia, 2Cor 1:16. Comp. 2Cor 2:12; 2Cor 2:13.

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 labours and strifes there, and we were full of anxiety in regard to you.

Without were fightings. Probably he here refers to fierce opposition, which he met with in prosecuting his work of preaching the gospel. He met there, as he did everywhere, with opposition from pagans, Jews, and false brethren. Tumults were usually excited wherever he went; and he preached the gospel commonly amidst violent opposition.

Within were fears, Referring probably to the anxiety which he had in regard to the success of the epistle which he had sent to the church at Corinth. He felt great solicitude on the subject. He had sent Titus there to see what was the state of the church, and to witness the effect of his instructions. Titus had not come to him as he had expected, at Troas, (2Cor 2:13,) and he felt the deepest anxiety in regard to him and the success of his epistle. His fears were probably that they would be indisposed to exercise the discipline on the offender; or lest the severity of the discipline required should alienate them from him; or lest the party under the influence of the false teachers should prevail. All was uncertainty, and his mind was filled with the deepest apprehension.

(e) "were fightings" De 32:25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:5-11

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. But God comforts those who are cast down. We should look above and beyond all means and instruments, to God, as the author of all the consolation and good we enjoy. Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the Spirit of God, renders the heart humble, contrite, submissive, disposed to mortify every sin, and to walk in newness of life. And this repentance is connected with saving faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort, and the sorrow of the world. The happy fruits of true repentance are mentioned. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments. It wrought a fear of watchfulness, and a cautious fear of sin. It wrought desire to be reconciled with God. It wrought zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make satisfaction for injuries done thereby. Deep humility before God, hatred of all sin, with faith in Christ, a new heart and a new life, make repentance unto salvation. May the Lord bestow it on every one of us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Corinthians 7:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

γὰρgarforG1063

ἐλθόντωνelthontōnwhen were comingG2064

ἡμῶνhēmōnweG3165

εἰςeisintoG1519

ΜακεδονίανMakedonianMacedoniaG3109

οὐδεμίανoudemiannoneG3762

ἔσχηκενeschēkendid haveG2192

ἄνεσινanesinrestG425

ἡhētheG3588

σὰρξsarxfleshG4561

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἐνeninG1722

παντὶpantievery [way]G3956

θλιβόμενοι·thlibomenoiwe are being pressed:G2346

ἔξωθενexōthenoutsideG1855

μάχαι,machaiconflicts,G3163

ἔσωθενesōthenwithinG2081

φόβοι.phoboifears.G5401

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 7:5

2 Corinthians 2:13
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
Deuteronomy 32:25
The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
2 Corinthians 11:23-30
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; …
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Acts 20:1
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. …
Job 18:11
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
Galatians 4:11
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Jeremiah 20:10
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
Jeremiah 6:25
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
2 Corinthians 2:9
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

when.
1:16,17; 2:13; Ac 20:1; 1Co 16:5
our.
4:8-12; 11:23-30; Ge 8:9; Isa 33:12; Jer 8:18; 45:3; Mt 11:28-30
troubled.
4:8; Job 18:11; Jer 6:25; 20:10
without.
De 32:25; 1Co 15:31
fears.
2:3,9; 11:29; 12:20,21; Ga 4:11,19,20; 1Th 3:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 7:4
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
2 Corinthians 7:5
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.
2 Corinthians 7:6
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Read all of 2 Corinthians 7

2 Corinthians 7:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque aun cuando vinimos á Macedonia, ningún reposo tuvo nuestra carne; antes, en todo fuimos atribulados: de fuera, cuestiones; de dentro, temores.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car aussi, lorsque nous sommes arrivés en Macédoine, notre chair n’a eu aucun repos, mais nous avons été affligés en toute manière: au-dehors, des combats; au-dedans, des craintes.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn auch als wir nach Macedonien kamen, hatte unser Fleisch keine Ruhe, sondern allenthalben waren wir bedrängt; von außen Kämpfe, von innen Befürchtungen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nam et cum venissemus in Macedoniam, nullam requiem habuit caro nostra, sed omnem tribulationem passi sumus: foris pugnæ, intus timores.