2 Corinthians 2:6
in 2 Corinthians 2The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;
KJV
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSufficient to such a man is this punishment - That is, the man has already suffered sufficiently. Here he gives a proof of his parental tenderness towards this great transgressor. He had been disowned by the Church; he had deeply repented; and now the apostle pleads for him.
This site's exposition
he hath not grieved me, but in part
on 2 Corinthians 2:5-6
If any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part, that I may not overcharge you all: Paul widens the injury from himself alone to the whole congregation, refusing to make the matter a personal grievance. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many: the majority's discipline is called enough, and the man's identity is read two ways among the commentators, some holding him the incestuous offender of 1 Corinthians 5, others a different man who wronged Paul personally during the painful visit between the letters. Either way the point of the verse stands untouched, that the church's discipline had already done its work and needed no further weight added to it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 297 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul reveals the zeal of the Corinthians, for they had all turned against this man, just as he had ordered them to.
A commentator
John ChrysostomON REPENTANCE AND ALMSGIVING 1.3.22 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
However, be mindful of this: if you become lazy and indifferent, sin will seize you at one time or another. Therefore, show concern, if not for your brother, then at least for yourself. Repel the disease, overpower the decay, and interrupt the spreading of the cancerous sore. Paul spoke of these things and of much more than these. Since he ordered the Christians in Corinth to hand the fornicator among them over to Satan, he said later that "the sinner changed" and became better. "For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough. Therefore, reaffirm your love for him." Even though Paul made him a common enemy, an adversary to all, expelled him from the fold and cut him off from the body, note how much concern he showed in order to bind him back indissolubly and rejoin him to the church. For he did not say, "simply love him" but "reaffirm your love for him." In other words, reveal your friendship as certain, unshakable, fervent, ardent and fiery; present your love with the same strength as the previous hatred. "What happened? Tell me, did you not surrender him to Satan?" "Yes," he said, "but not for him to remain in Satan's hands, but to be quickly delivered from his tyrannical dominion." Pay careful attention, however, to the very thing I was saying about how much Paul feared discouragement as a great weapon of the devil. He said, "Reaffirm your love for him," and then added the reason, "lest such a one should be swallowed up by excessive sorrow."
"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." Having first praised them as feeling joy and sorrow for the same things as himself, he then strikes into the subject of this person, having said first, "my joy is the joy of you all." But if my joy is the joy of you all, need is that you should also now feel pleasure with me, as ye then were pained with me: for both in that ye were made sorry, ye made me glad; and now in that ye rejoice, (if as I suppose ye shall feel pleasure,) ye will do the same. I know, he saith, that ye shared in my anger and indignation against him that had committed fornication, and that what had taken place grieved in part all of you. And therefore said I "in part," not as though ye were less hurt than I, but that I might not weigh down him that had committed fornication. He did not then grieve me only but you also equally, even though to spare him I said, "in part." Seest thou how at once he moderated their anger, by declaring that they shared also in his indignation. "Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many." And he saith not "to him that hath committed fornication," but here again "to such a one," as also in the former Epistle. Not however for the same reason; but there out of shame, here out of mercy. Wherefore he no where subsequently so much as mentions the crime; for it was time now to excuse.
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The Medieval Church1 voice
He does not say: for the one who fell into fornication, but "for such a one," as also in the first epistle. But there he did not even wish to name him, while here, sparing him, he never recalls the sin, teaching us also to …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
But lest they should wish to punish him more on account of the Apostle's sadness, he shows them that the punishment was sufficient, saying, for such a one, namely, he who pained me so much by sinning, this punishment by the majority is enough, i.e., …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment,....
The desired effect was obtained, for the man was humbled, and they had shown the proof of their obedience to his directions. He therefore directs them, with all speed, to restore the excommunicated person, or to receive him again to their communion,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Sufficient--without increasing it, which would only drive him to despair (2Co 2:7), whereas the object of the punishment was, "that (his) spirit might be saved" in the last day. to such a man--a milder designation of the offender than if he had been named [MEYER].
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Sufficient to such a man - The incestuous person who had been by Paul’s direction removed from the church. The object of Paul here is to have him again restored. For that purpose he says that the punishment which they had inflicted on him was “sufficient.” It was: (1) A sufficient expression of the evil of the offence, and of the readiness of the church to preserve itself pure; and, (2) It was a sufficient punishment to the offender. It had accomplished all that he had desired. It had humbled him, and brought him to repentance; and doubtless led him to put away his “wife”; compare note, 1Co 5:1. As that had been done, it was proper now that he should be again restored to the privileges of the church. No evil would result from such a restoration, and their duty to their penitent brother demanded it. Mr. Locke has remarked that Paul conducts this subject here with very great tenderness and delicacy. The entire passage from 2Co 2:5 to 2Co 2:10 relates solely to this offending brother, yet he never once mentions his name, nor does he mention his crime. He speaks of him only in the soft terms of “such a one” and “any one:” nor does he use an epithet which would be calculated to wound his feelings, or to transmit his name to posterity, or to communicate it to other churches. So that though this Epistle should be read, as Paul doubtless intended, by other churches, and be transmitted to future times, yet no one would ever be acquainted with the name of the individual. How different this from the temper of those who would emblazon abroad the names of offenders, or make a permanent record to carry them down with dishonor to posterity? Which was inflicted of many - By the church in its collective capacity; see the note on 1Co 5:4. Paul had required the church to administer this act of discipline, and they had promptly done it. […]
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἱκανὸν | hikanon | Sufficient | G2425 → | 39 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοιούτῳ | toiouto | to such a one | G5108 → | 56 times |
| ἡ | he | [is] the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπιτιμία | epitimia | punishment | G2009 → | |
| αὕτη | haute | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἡ | he | which [is] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλειόνων, | pleionon | majority, | G4119 → | 45 times |
ἱκανὸνSufficient
hikanonG2425 →39 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
τοιούτῳto such a one
toioutoG5108 →56 times
ἡ[is] the
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐπιτιμίαpunishment
epitimiaG2009 →
αὕτηthis
hauteG3778 →1381 times
ἡwhich [is]
heG3588 →19766 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
πλειόνων,majority,
pleiononG4119 →45 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
1 Timothy 5:20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
it leads to
- Titus 1:13
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- Deuteronomy 13:11
Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.
- 1 Timothy 1:20
Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
- Acts 5:11
And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
- Titus 1:13
Through
2 Corinthians 13:10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 10:8
For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
- 2 Corinthians 10:8
Through
2 Corinthians 7:11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to…
it leads to
- Romans 14:18
For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
- 1 Timothy 5:21–22
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
- Romans 14:18
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); Basil of Caesarea, THE LONG RULES 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, ON REPENTANCE AND ALMSGIVING 1.3.22; John Chrysostom, Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 297; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.