2 Corinthians 2:4

2 Corinthians 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
• New International Version (NIV)For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

Context of 2 Corinthians 2:4

2For if I cause you grief [by a well-deserved rebuke], who then provides me enjoyment but the very one whom I have made sad? 3And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you. For I wrote to you out of great distress and with an anguished heart, and with many tears, not to cause you sorrow but to make you realize the [overflowing] love which I have especially for you. 5But if someone has caused [all this] sorrow, he has caused it not to me, but in some degree—not to put it too severely—[he has distressed and grieved] all of you. 6For such a one this punishment by the majority is sufficient,

2 Corinthians 2:4 word by word

ἐκ γὰρ πολλῆς θλίψεως καὶ συνοχῆς καρδίας ἔγραψα ὑμῖν διὰ πολλῶν δακρύων, οὐχ ἵνα λυπηθῆτε, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀγάπην ἵνα γνῶτε ἣν ἔχω περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• anguishσυνοχήsunochē · anguishG4928
• of heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• I wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• withδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• tearsδάκρυ, δάκρυονdakru dakruon · teardropG1144
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye should be grievedλυπέωlupeō · to grieveG3076
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ye might knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• the loveὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• more abundantlyπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:4

• Leviticus 19:17‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you may most certainly rebuke your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.
• Psalms 119:136My eyes weep streams of water Because people do not keep Your law.
• Proverbs 27:5Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction] Than love that is hidden.
• Jeremiah 13:15Listen and pay close attention, do not be haughty and overconfident, For the Lord has spoken [says Jeremiah].
• Luke 19:41As He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it [and the spiritual ignorance of its people],
• Romans 9:2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
• Philippians 3:18For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation],
• 2 Corinthians 7:8For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret it [now]; though I did regret it —for I see that the letter hurt you, though only for a little while—
• 2 Corinthians 12:15But I will very gladly spend [my own resources] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you greatly, am I to be loved less [by you]?
• 2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For out of much affliction, etc. - It is very likely that the apostle's enemies had represented him as a harsh, austere, authoritative man; who was better pleased with inflicting wounds than in healing them. But he vindicates himself from this charge by solemnly asserting that this was the most painful part of his office; and that the writing of his first epistle to them cost him much affliction and anguish of heart, and many tears.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For out of much affliction - Possibly Paul‘s enemies had charged him with being harsh and overbearing. They may have said that there was much needless severity in his letter. He here meets that, and says, that it was with much pain and many tears that he was constrained to write as he did. He was pained at their conduct, and at the necessity which existed for such an epistle. This is an eminently beautiful instance of Paul‘s kindness of heart, and his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4After his painful visit (2:1), Paul wrote a letter with great anguish and many tears. It was meant for the Corinthians' benefit. That letter (see also 7:8–10) seems to have been lost. However, it effectively brought about the needed repentance and change.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. So far from my change of purpose being due to "lightness" (2Co 1:17), I wrote my letter to you (2Co 2:3) "out of much affliction (Greek, 'trouble') and anguish of heart, and with many tears." not that ye should be grieved--Translate, "be made sorry," to accord with the translation, 2Co 2:2. My ultimate and main object was, "not that ye might be made sorry," but that through sorrow you might be led to repentance, and so to joy, redounding both to you…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 2:4

• Church
• Love

In the dictionaries

• Advantage
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Determine
• Sufficient
• Anguish
• Bible, the
• Church Government
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings