I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
Parallel translations
- WEB I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.
- KJV I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
- NKJV I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
- NASB I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but saying goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia.
- NLT But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Despite the open door, Paul had no peace because Titus was not there with news of Corinth, so he moved on to Macedonia. His concern for the church overrode even a good opportunity.
Overview
Paul's anxiety over the Corinthians and his missing coworker Titus left him too restless to stay, even where ministry was fruitful. His love for the church shaped his decisions more than convenience. This honest account of inner turmoil shows that even great apostles felt deep emotional burdens for those they served.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Cor 7:5–6For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
- 2 Cor 12:18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
- Gal 2:3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
- 2 Cor 8:16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.
- 2 Cor 8:6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
- 2 Tim 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Titus 1:4To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
- Gal 2:1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
- 2 Cor 8:23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ.
- Acts 20:1–2When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
- 2 Cor 7:13On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 2:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.