2 Corinthians 2:13
in 2 Corinthians 2I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
KJV
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 2
Commentary
18 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I had no rest in my spirit - I was disappointed, sad, deeply anxious. Though the work in which I was engaged was that which usually gives me my highest joy, yet such was my anxiety to learn the state of things in Corinth, and the success of my letter, and to see Titus, whom I was expecting, that I had comparatively no peace, and no comfort.
This site's exposition
a door stood open for me
on 2 Corinthians 2:12-13
At Troas a door stood open for me in the Lord, a real opportunity given by God. Yet Paul had no peace, because he did not find Titus there, and he went on to Macedonia. His anxiety over Corinth outweighed a fruitful door.
This site's exposition
I had no peace in my spirit
Titus carried the news Paul was waiting for. Matthew Henry points ahead to 7:5 to 7, where Paul finds Titus in Macedonia and is comforted by his report. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set the unrest of Paul's spirit here beside the unrest of his flesh at 7:5.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 299 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul mentions Titus here for a purpose. Since he was the one who took the letter to Corinth, Paul wanted the church there to appreciate his worth.
"Taking my leave of them, I went from thence." That is, 'I spent no longer time, being straitened and distressed.' And perhaps the work was even impeded by his absence. And this was no light consolation to them too. For if when a door was opened there, and for this purpose he had come; yet because he found not the brother, he quickly started away; much more, he saith, ought ye to make allowance for the compulsion of those affairs which lead us and lead us about everywhere, and suffer us not according as we desire either to journey, or to tarry longer amongst those with whom we may wish to remain. Whence also he proceeds in this place again to refer his journeyings to God, as he did above to the Spirit.
These words seem on the one hand to be unworthy of Paul, if because of a brother's absence he threw away so great an opportunity of saving; and on the other, to hang apart from the context. What then? Will ye that we should first prove that they hang upon the context, or, that he hath said nothing unworthy of himself? As I think, the second, for so the other point also will be easier and clearer. How then do these words hang upon those before them? Let us recall to mind what those were, and so we shall perceive this. What then were those before? What he said at the beginning. "I would not have you," saith he, "ignorant concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power." Now having shown the manner of his deliverance, and inserted the intermediate matter, he is of necessity led to teach them again that in yet another way he had been afflicted. How, and in what way? In not finding Titus. Fearful indeed, and enough to prostrate the soul, is it even to endure trials; but when there is none to comfort and that can help to bear the burden, the tempest becometh greater.
He doth not say that the absence of Titus impeded the salvation of those who were about to come over, nor yet that he neglected those that believed on this account, but that he had no relief, that is, 'I was afflicted, I was distressed for the absence of my brother;' showing how great a matter a brother's absence is; and therefore he departed thence. But what means, "when I came to Troas, for the Gospel?" he saith not simply 'I arrived," but 'so as to preach.' But still, though I had both come for that and found very much to do, (for "a door was opened unto me in the Lord,") I had, saith he, "no relief," not that for this he impeded the work.
Lacking the consolation of Titus's presence Paul found the work unbearable, because there was so much opposition to him. For although some people had opened their hearts and accepted the Word of God, there were many unbelievers who reacted with impudent hostility. One lone voice …
10 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Then he tells why he had no rest in his spirit, when he adds, because I did not find my brother Titus there, i.e., because of Titus' absence. And this for two reasons. One reason was that although the Apostle knew all their languages, so …
That is, he was not there for a long time due to difficult circumstances. For although a great door was opened, that is, there was much work to do, yet for lack of a helper it met with hindrance.
Above he mentioned the affliction that befell him in Asia and showed how he was delivered from it; now again he reports that he was grieved by another thing as well, namely that he did not find Titus. For when there is no comforter, things …
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
The apostle resumes the thread of his discourse, chap. vii, 2, interposing an admirable digression concerning what he had done and suffered elsewhere, the profit of which he by this means derives to the Corinthians also; and as a prelude to his apology against the false apostles.
He went to Troas from Philippi by sea ( Acts xx. 6 ), and thence he went to Macedonia; so that he was prevented from passing by Corinth, as he had designed, ch. i. But, though he was prevented in his design as to the place of working, yet he was unwearied in his work.
1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 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.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
), as he expected, from whom he hoped to have understood more perfectly how it fared with them. And we find afterwards ( ch. vii. 5-7 ) that when the apostle had come into Macedonia he was comforted by the coming of Titus, and the information he gave him concerning them.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
I had no rest in my spirit,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
no rest in my spirit--rather, "no rest for my spirit" (Ge 8:9). As here his "spirit" had no rest; so in 2Co 7:5, his "flesh." His "spirit" under the Holy Spirit, hence, concluded that it was not necessary to avail himself of the "door" of usefulness at Troas any longer. taking . . . leave of them--the disciples at Troas.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
I had no rest in my spirit - I was so concerned for you, through the love I bear you, that I was greatly distressed because I did not find Titus returned to give me an account of your state. But taking my leave of them - I went thence into Macedonia, expecting to find him there; and thither he did come; and gave me a joyous account of your state. See 2Co 8:6, 2Co 8:7.
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔσχηκα | escheka | I have had | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἄνεσιν | anesin | rest | G425 → | 5 times |
| τῷ | to | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματί | pneumati | spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τῷ | to | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| εὑρεῖν | heurein | finding | G2147 → | 175 times |
| με | me | my | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| Τίτον | titon | Titus | G5103 → | 13 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφόν | adelphon | brother | G80 → | 343 times |
| μου, | mou | of mine, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | instead | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἀποταξάμενος | apotaxamenos | having taken leave of | G657 → | |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐξῆλθον | exelthon | I went out | G1831 → | 216 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Μακεδονίαν.¶ | makedonian | Macedonia. | G3109 → | 22 times |
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔσχηκαI have had
eschekaG2192 →707 times
ἄνεσινrest
anesinG425 →5 times
τῷin the
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματίspirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
τῷin the
toG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
εὑρεῖνfinding
heureinG2147 →175 times
μεmy
meG3165 →1936 times
ΤίτονTitus
titonG5103 →13 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφόνbrother
adelphonG80 →343 times
μου,of mine,
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἀλλ᾽instead
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἀποταξάμενοςhaving taken leave of
apotaxamenosG657 →
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἐξῆλθονI went out
exelthonG1831 →216 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Μακεδονίαν.¶Macedonia.
makedonianG3109 →22 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 Timothy 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
it leads to
- 1 John 2:15–16
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 2 Timothy 1:15
You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- Colossians 4:14–15
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
- 1 John 5:4–5
because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
- Philemon 1:24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
- 1 John 2:15–16
Through
2 Corinthians 8:6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 12:18
I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
- 2 Corinthians 8:19
More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
- 2 Corinthians 12:18
Through
2 Corinthians 12:18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 8:6
So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
- 2 Corinthians 8:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 5 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; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 299; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.