English Standard Version
2 Corinthians 7:12
12So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
- New International Version (NIV)So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
- New Living Translation (NLT)My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us.
Context of 2 Corinthians 7:12
10For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 72 Corinthians 7:12 word by word
ἄρα εἰ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, οὐχ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος, ἀλλ᾽ ἕνεκεν τοῦ φανερωθῆναι τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereforeἄραara · thereforeG686
- Whereforeεἰei · if: even thoughG1487
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- thoughἕνεκαheneka heneken heineken · because ofG1752
- I wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- notοὐou · noG3756
- that had done the wrongὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- that had done the wrongἀδικέωadikeō · to harmG91
- norοὐδέoude · norG3761
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- careσπουδήspoudē · diligenceG4710
- forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- youἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- in the sightἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- might appearφανερόωphaneroō · to revealG5319
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 7:12
- 2 Corinthians 2:9For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.
- 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 2:4For 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.
- 2 Corinthians 11:11And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
- 1 Timothy 3:5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 7:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Not for his cause that had done the wrong - viz. the incestuous person. Nor for his cause that suffered wrong - Some think the apostle means himself; others, that he means the Church at Corinth, the singular being put for the plural; others, the family of the incestuous person; and others, the father of the incestuous person. If this latter opinion be adopted, it would seem to intimate that the father of this person was yet alive, which would make the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you - In this verse Paul states the main reason why he had written to them on the subject. It was not principally on account of the man who had done the wrong, or of him who had been injured; but it was from tender anxiety for the whole church, and in order to show the deep interest which he had in their welfare. Not for his cause that had done the wrong - Not mainly, or principally on account of the incestuous person; 1…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-16Verses 12-16 The apostle was not disappointed concerning them, which he signified to Titus; and he could with joy declare the confidence he had in them for the time to come. Here see the duties of a pastor and of his flock; the latter must lighten the troubles of the pastoral office, by respect and obedience; the former make a due return by his care of them, and cherish the flock by testimonies of satisfaction, joy, and tenderness.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-13At first, Paul regretted sending his previous letter (see 2:3–4). Now he does not regret it, realizing the pain was worthwhile. The severe letter led the church in Corinth to repent. They rebuked the offending person—perhaps too strongly (see 2:6–11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. though I wrote unto you--"making you sorry with my letter" (2Co 7:8). his cause that suffered wrong--the father of the incestuous person who had his father's wife (1Co 5:1). The father, thus it seems, was alive. that our care for you, &c.--Some of the oldest manuscripts read thus, "That YOUR care for us might be made manifest unto you," &c. But the words, "unto you," thus, would be rather obscure; still the obscurity of the genuine reading may have…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 7:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 7
- 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
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