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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

Context of 2 Corinthians 2:4

2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3I 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. 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. 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• anguishσυνοχήsunochē · anguishG4928
• of heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• I wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• withδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• tearsδάκρυ, δάκρυονdakru dakruon · teardropG1144
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye should be grievedλυπέωlupeō · to grieveG3076
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ye might knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• the loveὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• more abundantlyπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:4

• Leviticus 19:17“ ‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
• Psalms 119:136Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
• Proverbs 27:5Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
• Jeremiah 13:15Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken.
• Luke 19:41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
• Romans 9:2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
• Philippians 3:18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 7:8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—
• 2 Corinthians 12:15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
• 2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

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