2 Corinthians 2:3

2 Corinthians 2:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
• New Living Translation (NLT)That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.

Context of 2 Corinthians 2:3

1For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4For 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. 5Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.

2 Corinthians 2:3 word by word

καὶ ἔγραψα τοῦτο αὐτό, ἵνα μὴ ἐλθὼν λύπην σχῶ ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔδει με χαίρειν πεποιθὼς ἐπὶ πάντας ὑμᾶς ὅτι ἡ ἐμὴ χαρὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ἐστιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• I wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• when I cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• I should haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• sorrowλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• them of whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to rejoiceχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• having confidenceπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• joyχαράchara · joyG5479
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:3

• 1 Corinthians 4:21What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
• 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 1:15Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.
• 2 Corinthians 7:6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
• 2 Corinthians 8:22And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.
• Galatians 5:10I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
• Philemon 1:21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 2:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And I wrote this same unto you - This I particularly marked in my first epistle to you; earnestly desiring your reformation, lest, if I came before this had taken place, I must have come with a rod, and have inflicted punishment on the transgressors. See 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. My joy is the joy of you all - I know that ye wish my comfort as much as I wish yours.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And I wrote this same unto you - The words “this same” ( ͂ ̓̀ (touto auto) refer to what he had written to them in the former Epistle, particularly to what he had written in regard to the incestuous person, requiring them to excommunicate him. Probably the expression also includes the commands in his former Epistle to reform their conduct in general, and to put away the abuses and evil practices which prevailed in the church there. Lest when I came ……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. 33. I wrote this same unto you--namely, that I would not come to you then (2Co 2:1), as, if I were to come then, it would have to be "in heaviness" (causing sorrow both to him and them, owing to their impenitent state). He refers to the first Epistle (compare 1Co 16:7; compare 1Co 4:19, 21; 5:2-7, 13). sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice--that is, sorrow from their impenitence, when he ought, on the contrary, to have joy from their penitent…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 2:3

• Church
• Joy
• Love

In the dictionaries

• Advantage
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Determine
• Sufficient
• Bible, the
• Church Government
• Confidence
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle

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