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 sorrow, who then will be the one making me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? 3This 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. For 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. 6Sufficient for such a person is this punishment which was imposed by the majority,

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

• For out of muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• and anguishσυνοχήsunochē · anguishG4928
• of heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• tearsδάκρυ, δάκρυονdakru dakruon · teardropG1144
• not soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• you would be madeλυπέωlupeō · to grieveG3076
• but that you might knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• the loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• especiallyπερισσοτέρωςperissoterōs · more excessivelyG4056

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:4

• Leviticus 19:17‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him.
• Psalms 119:136My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your Law.
• Proverbs 27:5Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
• Jeremiah 13:15Listen and pay attention, do not be haughty; For the Lord has spoken.
• Luke 19:41When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,
• Romans 9:2that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
• Philippians 3:18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,
• 2 Corinthians 7:8For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it--for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while--
• 2 Corinthians 12:15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
• 2 Corinthians 11:2For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed 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