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2 Corinthians 7:5

ESV For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn — fighting without and fear within.
NIV For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
NASB For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts on the outside, fears inside.
CSB In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within.
NLT When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.
KJV 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.
NKJV For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

What does 2 Corinthians 7:5 mean?

Paul is returning to a story he left off suddenly earlier in this letter (2 Corinthians 2:13). The story is this: He had sent Titus with a difficult, corrective letter he had written to the Corinthians. He instructed them to hold an influential man among them accountable for his sin. The letter, which is now lost to us, may have been harsh. Paul waited anxiously to hear how they would respond.

However, Titus wasn't in Troas when Paul arrived there to meet with him after the trip to Corinth. This troubled Paul deeply and he returned to Macedonia. Now Paul picks up the story. When he and his co-workers got back to Macedonia, things did not improve for them. Both physically and emotionally, they continued to struggle. They could not rest. They were afflicted with trouble, which included fighting of some kind and fear. Some of this was likely fueled by Paul's concern for Titus and wanting to know how the Corinthians had responded to his letter. Apparently, he was also experiencing additional opposition.

Finally, as the following verses reveal, Titus did return from Corinth, and the news was good.
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