2 Corinthians 2:3
in 2 Corinthians 2I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
And I wrote this same unto you, 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.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And I wrote this same unto you - The words “this same” (τοῦτο αὐτὸ (touto auto) refer to what he had written to them in the former Epistle, particularly to what he had written in regard to the incestuous person, requiring them to excommunicate him. Probably the expression also includes the commands in his former Epistle to reform their conduct in general, and to put away the abuses and evil practices which prevailed in the church there.
This site's exposition
I wrote as I did
on 2 Corinthians 2:3-4
The words I wrote as I did point to the severe letter Paul sent instead of the visit. Verse 4 tells its cost and aim: written through many tears, to let you know how much I love you.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
The purification of the people is the apostle's joy.
"And I wrote this very thing unto you." What? That for this cause I came not, to spare you. When wrote he? In the former Epistle when he said, "I do not wish to see you now by the way?" I think not; but in this Epistle when he said, "Lest when I come again, my God should humble me before you." I have written then towards the end this same, saith he, "lest when I come, my God will humble me, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore." But why didst thou write? "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?" For whereas he said he was made glad by their sorrow, and this was too arrogant and harsh, again he gave it a different turn and softened it by what he subjoined. For, he saith, I therefore wrote unto you before, that I might not with anguish find you unreformed; and I said this, "lest I should have sorrow," out of regard not to my own interest but yours. For I know that if ye see me rejoicing ye rejoice, and if ye behold me sad ye are sad.
The Medieval Church2 voices
What? That I did not come to you, sparing you. Where did he write? In this very epistle. For this reason I wrote to you now, so that you would correct yourselves, and so that, finding you uncorrected, I would not have sorrow from you, …
But the reason I write this to you is that you so adjust yourselves, that when I come, I will not be sad at seeing you uncorrected, in addition to the sadness I experienced when I heard that you had sinned. In regard to this …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He had written with tears, that they might know his abundant love to them. Note, [1.] Even in reproofs, admonitions, and acts of discipline, faithful ministers show their love. [2.] Needful censures, and the exercise of church-discipline towards offenders, are a grief to tender-spirited ministers, and are administered with regret.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And I wrote this same unto you,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The latter happy effect was produced by his first Epistle, whereas the former would have been the result, had he then visited them as he had originally proposed. having confidence . . . that my joy is the joy of you all--trusting that you, too, would feel that there was sufficient reason for the postponement, if it interfered with our mutual joy [ALFORD].
And I wrote this same unto you - This I particularly marked in my first epistle to you; earnestly desiring your reformation, lest, if I came before this had taken place, I must have come with a rod, and have inflicted punishment on the transgressors. See 1Co 5:1-13. My joy is the joy of you all - I know that ye wish my comfort as much as I wish yours.
The words behind it
25 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔγραψα | egrapsa | I wrote | G1125 → | 189 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| αὐτό, | auto | same thing, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐλθὼν | elthon | having come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| λύπην | lupen | grief | G3077 → | 16 times |
| σχῶ | scho | I may have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἀφ᾽ | aph᾽ | from [those] | G575 → | 640 times |
| ὧν | hon | of whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔδει | edei | it was necessary | G1163 → | 101 times |
| με | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| χαίρειν | chairein | to rejoice | G5463 → | 74 times |
| πεποιθὼς | pepoithos | having trusted | G3982 → | 51 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | in | G1909 → | 883 times |
| πάντας | pantas | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμὴ | eme | my | G1473 → | 839 times |
| χαρὰ | chara | joy | G5479 → | 58 times |
| πάντων | panton | of all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐστιν. | estin | is. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔγραψαI wrote
egrapsaG1125 →189 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
αὐτό,same thing,
autoG846 →5565 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐλθὼνhaving come
elthonG2064 →628 times
λύπηνgrief
lupenG3077 →16 times
σχῶI may have
schoG2192 →707 times
ἀφ᾽from [those]
aph᾽G575 →640 times
ὧνof whom
honG3739 →1405 times
ἔδειit was necessary
edeiG1163 →101 times
μεme
meG3165 →1936 times
χαίρεινto rejoice
chaireinG5463 →74 times
πεποιθὼςhaving trusted
pepoithosG3982 →51 times
ἐπὶin
epiG1909 →883 times
πάνταςall
pantasG3956 →1235 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐμὴmy
emeG1473 →839 times
χαρὰjoy
charaG5479 →58 times
πάντωνof all
pantonG3956 →1235 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐστιν.is.
estinG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 5:10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:12
As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
- Philippians 3:15
All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.
- Galatians 5:12
Through
2 Corinthians 7:12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:9
My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
- 1 Timothy 3:5
For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?
- 2 Corinthians 2:9
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:4And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:10
And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more
- Philemon 1:21
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
- Philippians 1:6
Through
Philemon 1:21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:4
And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.