2 Corinthianschapter 2

17 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 186 cross-references outward and receives 253 — heaviest partner: 2 Corinthians.

Chapter summary

If I should come again, I should make you sorry — so Paul wrote the painful letter instead. The offender has been punished enough; now confirm your love toward him. Satan's devices are known. Paul went to Troas to preach the gospel, and a door was opened unto him of the Lord, but he had no rest because Titus his brother had not arrived. Thanks be unto God who always causeth us to triumph in Christ. Not as many, corrupting the word. Calvin reads the chapter as apostolic tenderness married to apostolic firmness.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Epistle · Paul — see the 2 Corinthians overview for the book's full setting.

1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.

2 For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5 But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all.

6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;

7 so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.

8 Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him.

9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.