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 Living Translation (NLT)That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.

Context of 2 Corinthians 2:3

1But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? 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. 4For 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. 5But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• I wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• when I cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• I should haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• sorrowλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• them of whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to rejoiceχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• having confidenceπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• joyχαράchara · joyG5479
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:3

• 1 Corinthians 4:21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
• 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
• 2 Corinthians 12:21lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 1:15And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit—
• 2 Corinthians 7:6Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
• 2 Corinthians 8:22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.
• Galatians 5:10I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
• Philemon 1:21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than 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