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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 2 Corinthians 2:3

1But I decided this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. 2For if I cause you sorrow, who then will be the one making me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy was the joy of you all. 4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. 5But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree--not to say too much--for 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

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• is the veryαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• you, soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• when I cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• I would not haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• sorrowλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• from those whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to makeχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• havingπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• in you allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• that my joyχαράchara · joyG5479

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:3

• 1 Corinthians 4:21What do you desire? That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
• 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time that I am coming to you. On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be confirmed.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
• 2 Corinthians 1:15In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing;
• 2 Corinthians 7:6But God, who comforts the discouraged, comforted us by the arrival of Titus;
• 2 Corinthians 8:22We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
• Galatians 5:10I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is.
• Philemon 1:21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what 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