2 Corinthians 2:5-11
New English Translation
5 But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate)[a] he has saddened all of you as well. 6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 7 so that now instead[b] you should rather forgive and comfort him.[c] This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.[d] 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.[e] 9 For this reason also I wrote you:[f] to test you to see[g] if you are obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him—for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be exploited[h] by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 tn Or “(not to say too much)”; Grk “(not to burden you [with words]).”
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 tn Grk “so that on the other hand.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is supplied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 tn Grk “comfort him, lest somehow such a person be swallowed up by excessive grief,” an idiom for a person being so overcome with grief as to despair or give up completely (L&N 25.285). In this context of excessive grief or regret for past sins, “overwhelmed” is a good translation since contemporary English idiom speaks of someone “overwhelmed by grief.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the difficulty of expressing a negative purpose/result clause in English, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- 2 Corinthians 2:8 tn Or “I urge you to show that your love for him is real.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 tn The word “you” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (as an understood direct object).
- 2 Corinthians 2:9 tn Grk “to know the proof of you,” that is, to know if the Corinthians’ obedience to Paul as an apostle was genuine (L&N 72.7).
- 2 Corinthians 2:11 tn Or “be taken advantage of.”
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
Lexham English Bible
Forgive and Comfort the Offender
5 But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me sorrow, but to some degree[a]—in order not to say too much[b]—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person. 7 So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him. 9 Because for this reason also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sake[c] in the presence of Christ, 11 in order that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 Literally “in part”
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 Literally “in order not to burden”
- 2 Corinthians 2:10 Literally “for the sake of you”
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software