New English Translation
2 Corinthians 7:12
12So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Corinthians 7:12
10For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death. 11For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God. 13Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit. 14For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well.
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 reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife.
- 2 Corinthians 2:4For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
- 1 Timothy 3:5But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?
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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