2 Corinthians 2:7
in 2 Corinthians 2So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.
KJV
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
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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)
So that contrariwise - On the other hand: on the contrary. That is, instead of continuing the punishment. Since the punishment was sufficient, and has answered all the purpose of bearing your testimony against the offence, and of bringing him to repentance, you ought again to admit him to your communion. Ye ought rather to forgive him - Rather than continue the pain and disgrace of excommunication.
This site's exposition
forgive and comfort him
on 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
Paul now calls for discipline to end: forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Verse 8 asks the church to reaffirm your love for him, since discipline aims at a sinner's repentance and restoration.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A person who is swallowed up in too much affliction will turn in desperation to committing sins. True repentance, on the other hand, is a turning away from sin. If this person repents, he will prove that he is sorry for what he has done.
"So that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow." He bids them not only take off the censure: but, besides, restores him to his former estate; for if one let go him that hath been scourged and heal him not, he hath done nothing. And see how him too he keeps down lest he should be rendered worse by the forgiveness. For though he had both confessed and repented, he makes it manifest that he obtaineth remission not so much by his penitence as by this free gift. Wherefore he saith, "to forgive him and to comfort him," and what follows again makes the same thing plain. "For," saith he, "it is not because he is worthy, not because he has shown sufficient penitence; but because he is weak, it is for this I request it." Whence also he added, "lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow." And this is both as testifying to his deep repentance and as not allowing him to fall into despair. But what means this, "swallowed up?" Either doing as Judas did, or even in living becoming worse. For, saith he, if he should rush away from longer enduring the anguish of this lengthened censure, perchance also despairing he will either come to hang himself, or fall into greater crimes afterwards. One ought then to take steps beforehand, lest the sore become too hard to deal with; and lest what we have well done we lose by want of moderation.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Not only, he says, remove the prohibition, but also grant him something more, and comfort him, that is, restore him, heal him, just as one who has punished someone would not only release him but would also apply care to the healing of his wounds. …
Therefore, because that punishment was sufficient and he did penance, he urges them to show mercy, saying, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him. Here he does three things: first, he commands them to spare the sinner; secondly, he gives the reason …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He was so sensible of this fault, and so much afflicted under his punishment, that he was in danger of falling into despair. When sorrow is excessive it does hurt; and even sorrow for sin is too great when it unfits for other duties, and drives men to despair.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They must also confirm their love to him; that is, they should show that their reproofs and censures proceeded from love to his person, as well as hatred to his sin, and that their design was to reform, not to ruin him.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Ye ought rather to forgive him - He had now suffered enough; for the punishment inflicted had answered the end for which it was inflicted; and there was some danger that, if this poor culprit were not restored to the bosom of the Church, his distress and anguish would destroy his life, or drive him to despair.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥστε | hoste | so that | G5620 → | 83 times |
| τοὐναντίον | tounantion | on the contrary | G5121 → | |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | rather | G3123 → | 81 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | for you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| χαρίσασθαι | charisasthai | to forgive | G5483 → | 23 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρακαλέσαι, | parakalesai | to comfort [him], | G3870 → | 108 times |
| μή | me | lest | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| πως | pos | perhaps | G4458 → | 16 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περισσοτέρᾳ | perissotera | by more excessive | G4055 → | |
| λύπῃ | lupe | sorrow | G3077 → | 16 times |
| καταποθῇ | katapothea | may be overwhelmed | G2666 → | |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοιοῦτος. | toioutos | such a one. | G5108 → | 56 times |
ὥστεso that
hosteG5620 →83 times
τοὐναντίονon the contrary
tounantionG5121 →
μᾶλλονrather
mallonG3123 →81 times
ὑμᾶςfor you
humasG4771 →2973 times
χαρίσασθαιto forgive
charisasthaiG5483 →23 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρακαλέσαι,to comfort [him],
parakalesaiG3870 →108 times
μήlest
meG3361 →1066 times
πωςperhaps
posG4458 →16 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
περισσοτέρᾳby more excessive
perissoteraG4055 →
λύπῃsorrow
lupeG3077 →16 times
καταποθῇmay be overwhelmed
katapotheaG2666 →
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
τοιοῦτος.such a one.
toioutosG5108 →56 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
Ephesians 4:32Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
it leads to
- Matthew 6:14–15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 11:25
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 3:12–13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- 1 Peter 3:8–9
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- Matthew 6:14–15
Through
Colossians 3:13Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Ephesians 4:32
Through
Proverbs 17:22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:13
A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
- Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
- Proverbs 15:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 9 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; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; 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.