Untitled Sermon (2)

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

The defilement in view affects body and spirit. The Greek text is literally “flesh* and spirit.” Paul could be using popular language to designate the material and immaterial elements of a person (Plummer 1915:211). But the fact that he uses “flesh” and “spirit” interchangeably at 2:13 and 7:5 suggests that he is looking at the human being from two differing perspectives. This fits with Hebraic thinking, which did not compartmentalize the human being but viewed the whole person from different vantage points (such as physical, spiritual, mental).1

1 Belleville, L. L. (1996). 2 Corinthians (Vol. 8, 2 Co 6:14). Westmont, IL: IVP Academic.