2 Corinthians 2:10
in 2 Corinthians 2If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the presence of Christ;
KJV
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseOur patience, and facility, and humanity are ready for those who come. I entreat all to return into the Church. I beg all our fellow-soldiers to be included within the camp of Christ, and the dwelling-place of God the Father. I remit everything. I shut my eyes to many things, with the desire and the wish to gather together the brotherhood. Even those things which are committed against God I do not investigate with the full judgment of religion. I almost sin myself, in remitting sins more than I ought.
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.
This site's exposition
in the presence of Christ
Paul joins his pardon to the church's pardon. John Wesley reads the forgiving as done by the authority Christ had given him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Paul is practicing what he preaches. He has the right to give orders, but he cannot refuse to do himself what he is asking others to do. In the first letter he condemned this man's crime, in the hope that everyone would loathe him for …
That all sins may be forgiven him who has turned to God with his whole heart. ...Also in the second Epistle of the blessed Paul to the Corinthians: "For the sorrow which is according to God worketh a stedfast repentance unto salvation, but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Also in the same place of this very matter: "But if ye have forgiven anything to any one, I also forgive him; for I also forgave what I have forgiven for your sakes in the person of Christ, that we may not be circumvented by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his wiles."
"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
By this he softens the disagreement and stubbornness by which they might not have shown the man leniency. For here he presents them as the source of his forgiveness, and himself as agreeing with them, saying: "whom you forgive anything, him I forgive also." Lest …
And this is obvious, for what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the person of Christ. In this he touches four things required for such pardon or forgiveness. The first is discernment, so that pardon is not …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Thirdly, he urges them by reminding them of a gift, when he says, any one whom you forgive, I also forgive. As if to say: you should do this because I also have done it. For if you have forgiven someone and asked me to …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
To whom ye forgive - He makes no question of their complying with his direction. Anything - So mildly does he speak even of that heinous sin, after it was repented of. In the person of Christ - By the authority wherewith he has invested me.
I will readily concur with you in forgiving him." And this he would do for their sakes, for love to them and for their advantage; and for Christ's sake, or in his name, as his apostle, and in conformity to his doctrine and example, which are so full of kindness and tender mercy towards all those who truly repent.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
To whom ye forgive any thing - Here he farther shows them that his sole object in the punishment inflicted on the transgressor, was his amendment and therefore promises to ratify, in the name and authority of Christ, the free pardon which he exhorts them to dispense. In the person of Christ - As I believe Christ acts towards his penitent soul, so do I. Christ forgives his sin, and takes him to his favor; let us forgive him his offense against the Church, and restore him to its communion.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
To whom ye forgive anything - The sense here is, “I have confidence in you as a Christian society and such confidence, that if you forgive an offence in one of your members, I shall approve the act, and shall also be ready to forgive.” He refers, doubtless, to this particular case; but he makes his remark general. It is implied here, I think, that the Corinthians were disposed to forgive the offending brother; and Paul here assures them that they had his hearty assent to this, and that if they did forgive him, he was ready to join them in the act, and to forgive him also. For if I forgave anything - If I forgive anything; if I remit any of the punishments which have been inflicted by my authority. For your sakes - It is not on account of the offender alone; it is in order to promote the happiness and purity of the church. In the person of Christ - Locke paraphrases this, “By the authority, and in the name of Christ.” Doddridge,” As in the person of Christ, and by the high authority with which he has been pleased to invest me.” Tyndale, “In the room of Christ.” The word rendered “person” (Margin, “sight,” πρόσωπον prosōpon, from πρός pros and ὤψ ōps), means properly the part toward, at, and around the eye - Robinson. Then it means the face, visage, countenance; then the presence, person, etc. Here it probably means, in the presence of Christ; with his eye upon me, and conscious that I am acting before him, and must give account to him. It implies, undoubtedly, that Paul acted by his authority, and felt that he was doing that which Christ would approve.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ᾧ | ho | To whomever | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δέ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τι | ti | anything | G5100 → | 528 times |
| χαρίζεσθε, | charizesthe | you forgive, | G5483 → | 23 times |
| κἀγώ· | kago | I also myself; | G1473 →G2532 → | 839 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ὃ | ho | to whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| κεχάρισμαι, | kecharismai | I have forgiven, | G5483 → | 23 times |
| εἴ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τι | ti | anything | G5100 → | 528 times |
| κεχάρισμαι, | kecharismai | I have forgiven, | G5483 → | 23 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | [it is] for | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| προσώπῳ | prosopo | [the] presence | G4383 → | 75 times |
| Χριστοῦ, | christou | of Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
ᾧTo whomever
hoG3739 →1405 times
δέnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τιanything
tiG5100 →528 times
χαρίζεσθε,you forgive,
charizestheG5483 →23 times
κἀγώ·I also myself;
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
ὃto whom
hoG3739 →1405 times
κεχάρισμαι,I have forgiven,
kecharismaiG5483 →23 times
εἴif
eiG1487 →508 times
τιanything
tiG5100 →528 times
κεχάρισμαι,I have forgiven,
kecharismaiG5483 →23 times
δι᾽[it is] for
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
προσώπῳ[the] presence
prosopoG4383 →75 times
Χριστοῦ,of Christ,
christouG5547 →523 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
Matthew 18:18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
it leads to
- Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 20:23
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 5:4–5
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,
- Matthew 16:19
Through
2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:20
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
- Luke 14:23
So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
- Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
- Ezekiel 18:31–32
Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
- Ephesians 6:20
Through
John 20:23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
it leads to
- Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
- Matthew 18:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 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; Cyprian, Epistle LIV; Cyprian, Pseudo-Cyprian Exhortation to Repentance; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.