2 Corinthians 2:9
in 2 Corinthians 2My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.
KJV
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 2
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For to this end also did I write - The apostle did not say that this was the only purpose of his writing, to induce them to excommunicate the offender. He does not say that he wished in an arbitrary manner to test their willingness to obey him, or to induce them to do a thing in itself wrong, in order to try their obedience. But the meaning is this: This was the main reason why he wrote to them, rather than to come personally among them.
This site's exposition
stand the test and be obedient
on 2 Corinthians 2:9-11
Paul joins his forgiveness to the church's: If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. Verse 11 names the danger of excessive severity, which Satan could use to turn the church's discipline into division.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
As far as anyone can tell, Paul was commending the Corinthians for their obedience in other respects. They had already put matters right in their church administration, and now he was asking them to be obedient in this matter as well.
"For to this end also did I write to you, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things." I not only in cutting off but also in reuniting. Seest thou how here again he brings the danger to their doors. For as when he sinned, he alarmed their minds, except they should cut him off, saying, "A little leaven leaventh the whole lump," and several other things; so here too again he confronts them with the fear of disobedience, as good as saying, "As then ye had to consult not for him, but for yourselves too, so now must ye not less for yourselves than for him; lest ye seem to be of such as love contention and have not human sensibilities, and not to be in all things obedient." For the former instance might have seemed to proceed even of envy and malice, but this shows very especially the obedience to be pure, and whether ye are apt unto loving kindness. For this is the test of right minded disciples; if they obey not only when ordered to do certain things, but when the contrary also. Therefore he said, "in all things," showing that if they disobey, they disgrace not him so much as themselves, earning the character of lovers of contention; and he doth this that hence also he may drive them to obey. Whence also he saith, "For to this end did I write to you;" and yet he wrote not for this end, but he saith so in order to win them. For the leading object was the salvation of that person. But where it does no harm, he also gratifies them. And by saying, "In all things," he again praises them, recalling to memory and bringing forth to view their former obedience. "To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also." Seest thou how again he assigns the second part to himself, showing them as beginning, himself following. This is the way to soften an exasperated, to compose a contentious spirit. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Secondly, he urges them with a command, saying, for this is why I wrote, namely, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. He says, in everything, namely, whether they are pleasing or displeasing to you. For he had first …
He frightens them so that, fearing condemnation for disobedience, they would more willingly show leniency to the man. "I wrote for this reason," he says, "to test by experience" your virtue of obedience — whether you will show me the same obedience now, when he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For to this end also did I write,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
All this accords with reality, and is as remote as possible from imposture [PALEY, Horæ Paulinæ]. The interchange of feeling is marked (2Co 2:4), "I wrote . . . that ye might know the love," &c.: here, "I did write, that I might know the proof of you."
For to this end also did I write - Εγραψα, I have written this also, the advices and commands which I now give you, that I might know whether ye be obedient in all things.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς | eis | For | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| γὰρ | gar | indeed | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔγραψα, | egrapsa | did I write, | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| γνῶ | gno | I may know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δοκιμὴν | dokimen | proof | G1382 → | 7 times |
| ὑμῶν, | humon | of you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἰ | ei | whether | G1487 → | 508 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| πάντα | panta | everything | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὑπήκοοί | hupekooi | obedient | G5255 → | |
| ἐστε. | este | you are. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
εἰςFor
eisG1519 →1755 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
γὰρindeed
garG1063 →1039 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔγραψα,did I write,
egrapsaG1125 →189 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
γνῶI may know
gnoG1097 →221 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
δοκιμὴνproof
dokimenG1382 →7 times
ὑμῶν,of you,
humonG4771 →2973 times
εἰwhether
eiG1487 →508 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
πάνταeverything
pantaG3956 →1235 times
ὑπήκοοίobedient
hupekooiG5255 →
ἐστε.you are.
esteG1510 →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
2 Corinthians 10:6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.
it leads to
- Numbers 16:26–30
And he warned the congregation, “Move away now from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”
- 2 Corinthians 7:15
And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2
I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–5
Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- Acts 5:3–11
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
- Numbers 16:26–30
Through
Philippians 2:22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 8:22
And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach…
- 2 Corinthians 8:22
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 10 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.