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.
Parallel translations
- WEB For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.
- 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.
- BSB For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.
- 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.
- NASB 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.
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
Paul wrote that severe letter out of deep distress and many tears, not to wound them but to show his abundant love. His correction was an expression of affection.
Overview
Paul reveals the anguish behind his earlier stern letter: it was written through tears, intending not to inflict pain but to communicate overflowing love. Faithful rebuke, he shows, springs from a heart that seeks the good of the one corrected. This mirrors the way godly discipline, like God's own, flows from love rather than hostility.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Cor 7:12So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.
- Prov 27:5–6Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
- Lev 19:17–18“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
- Luke 19:41–44When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
- Phil 3:18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
- 2 Cor 11:2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- Ps 119:136Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. TZADI
- 2 Cor 7:8–9For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while.
- 2 Cor 12:15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
- Rom 9:2–3that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
- Jer 13:15–17Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken.
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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 2:4 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.