2 Corinthians 2 4

2 Corinthians 2:4 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.

2 Corinthians 2:4 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.

2 Corinthians 2:4 niv

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.

2 Corinthians 2:4 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.

2 Corinthians 2:4 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.

2 Corinthians 2 verses

2 Corinthians 2 4 Meaning

Second Corinthians 2:4 reveals the deep anguish and genuine affection behind Paul's previous "severe" letter to the Corinthians. It communicates that his difficult communication, though it brought grief, was not intended to cause sorrow for its own sake. Rather, it stemmed from profound personal suffering and an overflowing, unconditional love for them, purposed so that they would comprehend the extent of his spiritual care and affection. It underlines that pastoral correction, even when painful, originates from a place of fervent love and aims for spiritual growth, not destruction.

2 Corinthians 2 4 Context

This verse is situated early in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, following a challenging period in his relationship with them. In Chapter 1, Paul defended his character and apostolic ministry against accusations of wavering or inconsistency. Chapter 2 opens with Paul explaining why he decided not to make a painful third visit to Corinth. Instead, he preferred to write a letter, which he refers to here as "the previous letter" or the "severe letter" (some identify this as a lost letter, others suggest parts of 1 Corinthians or a section now within 2 Corinthians). Verse 4 clarifies his motivation for sending that letter. The sorrow he felt while writing it, and the sorrow it caused the Corinthians, were not gratuitous. They were an expression of his deep, parental love (agapē) for them. This understanding then transitions into his appeal for the forgiveness and restoration of the offending individual mentioned in verses 5-11, showing that his goal was always restoration and joy, not continued grief or judgment.

2 Corinthians 2 4 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This is a connective particle indicating an explanation or a reason. It shows that what follows explains why Paul did not visit them in sorrow, but rather wrote.
• out of much (ἐκ πολλῆς - ek pollēs): Signifies the origin or source of his action. The writing stemmed from an abundant quantity of what follows. "Much" emphasizes the intensity.
• affliction (θλίψεως - thlipseōs): Derived from thlipsis, meaning "pressure, tribulation, distress, trouble, anguish." It paints a picture of being crushed or pressed, a common theme for Paul's ministry (2 Cor 1:4-8). This refers to external pressures and deep emotional suffering he endured.
• and anguish (καὶ συνοχῆς - kai synochēs): From synoche, meaning "a constriction, distress, narrow straits, intense anxiety or anguish." This emphasizes the internal emotional burden and feeling of being hemmed in, reflecting profound distress.
• of heart (καρδίας - kardias): Kardia in biblical Greek is not just the physical organ, but the core of a person – the center of emotion, thought, will, and spiritual life. Paul's suffering was deeply personal and internal, affecting his entire being.
• I wrote (ἔγραψα - egraphsa): Aorist tense, pointing to a specific, completed action in the past: the writing and sending of his previous, painful letter.
• to you (ὑμῖν - hymin): The direct object, specifying the recipients of the letter: the Corinthian church.
• with many tears (διὰ πολλῶν δακρύων - dia pollōn dakryōn): Dia indicates the means or accompanying circumstances. Polla dakrua literally "many tears." This vividly conveys the emotional cost to Paul. Tears are a biblical sign of profound sorrow, compassion, prayer, and deep earnestness (e.g., Acts 20:19, 31; Rom 9:2; Phil 3:18).
• not (οὐχ - ouch) to make you grieved (ἵνα μὴ λυπηθῆτε - hina mē lypēthēte): Hina mē introduces a negative purpose clause. Paul directly refutes the idea that his primary intention was simply to inflict pain or cause sorrow. Lypeō means "to cause grief or pain."
• but (ἀλλ᾿ - all') that you might know (ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα γνῶτε - all' hina gnōte): Allā indicates a strong contrast and introduces the true, positive purpose of his letter. Gnōte (from ginoskō) means "that you might come to know, perceive, understand fully." The purpose was intellectual and experiential understanding.
• the love (τὴν ἀγάπην - tēn agapēn): Agapē refers to God-like, self-sacrificial, unconditional love. This is the ultimate motivator of his actions. It’s a purposeful love focused on the well-being of the other.
• which I have so abundantly (ἣν ἔχω περισσοτέρως - hēn echō perissoterōs): Perissoterōs is the comparative adverb "more abundantly, exceedingly, in a higher degree." This highlights that his love for them was not merely present but overflowing and surpassed what might have been assumed. His painful actions paradoxically flowed from an exceeding amount of love.
• for you (εἰς ὑμᾶς - eis hymas): "Toward you" or "directed to you." Specifies the recipients of this profound, abundant love.

Words-group analysis:

• "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart": This phrase encapsulates Paul's internal struggle and the severe personal cost of his ministry. It emphasizes that his pastoral actions were never superficial but deeply rooted in genuine experience. The double negative emotions (thlipsis and synochē) amplify the distress, grounding his corrective action in authentic, costly care.
• "I wrote to you with many tears": This conveys the deeply emotional and sincere nature of Paul's communication. It's not a detached, cold rebuke, but one steeped in pain and profound empathy. The "tears" personalize the struggle and the genuine care he had for their spiritual state, transforming the "severe" letter from an act of anger into one of weeping compassion.
• "not to make you grieved, but that you might know the love": This forms a pivotal contrast. It reveals Paul's redemptive intention. The immediate effect (grief) was a pathway, not the destination. The ultimate goal was enlightenment – for them to understand the immense, driving force behind his hard words: an exceeding pastoral agape love for them. It distinguishes godly sorrow, which leads to repentance and joy, from worldly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 2 4 Bonus section

The nature of the "severe letter" mentioned by Paul remains a subject of ongoing discussion among biblical scholars. Some propose it was a lost letter that Paul wrote between 1 and 2 Corinthians. Others suggest that 1 Corinthians itself contained "severe" passages (e.g., chapters 5-6). A third theory posits that a portion of our current 2 Corinthians, specifically chapters 10-13, might be part of this "severe letter," inserted later into the collection. Regardless of its exact identity, the significant point is Paul's internal anguish and tears associated with its composition, signifying the weighty nature of confronting spiritual and moral failures in a loving way. This highlights that faithful leadership often demands deeply emotional and personally taxing communication, prioritizing spiritual health over superficial harmony. His tears were not just sorrow over their sin, but over the pain they would feel, and the pain he felt having to cause it. This verse profoundly expresses the agony of agape love in ministry.

2 Corinthians 2 4 Commentary

Second Corinthians 2:4 serves as a profound window into the heart of an apostle. Paul here demystifies the previous painful interaction, showing that pastoral confrontation, when executed faithfully, arises not from anger or spite, but from immense, sacrificing love. He bore a heavy burden of internal distress (thlipsis and synochē) as he penned that "severe" letter, evident in the "many tears" he shed. These tears were not a sign of weakness, but of profound empathy and genuine spiritual travail for his spiritual children. His core intent was never to cause mere sorrow, but to prompt self-reflection and repentance, leading them to comprehend the depth of his agapē for them. This understanding transforms their initial pain into recognition of his devoted care. The verse underscores a crucial principle for all spiritual leadership and interpersonal relationships: true, corrective love is costly to the giver, potentially painful to the receiver, yet always aims for redemptive restoration and deeper communion.

Examples:

• A parent disciplining a child out of love, not anger, so the child learns righteousness.
• A surgeon performing a painful operation to save a life, knowing the immediate pain is for ultimate healing.
• A faithful friend speaking a hard truth, knowing it might cause momentary discomfort but will prevent long-term harm to the relationship or the individual.