2 Corinthians 2 8

2 Corinthians 2:8 kjv

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

2 Corinthians 2:8 nkjv

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

2 Corinthians 2:8 niv

I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Corinthians 2:8 esv

So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Corinthians 2:8 nlt

So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Corinthians 2 verses

2 Corinthians 2 8 Meaning

Paul urges the Corinthian church to outwardly and genuinely demonstrate their love for the previously disciplined individual. This involves confirming their acceptance and re-welcoming him into the fellowship, ensuring that the necessary discipline gives way to restoration and comfort. The purpose is to move from correction to full reconciliation, affirming the true nature of their Christian love.

2 Corinthians 2 8 Context

This verse is part of Paul's deeply personal and emotional discussion with the Corinthians, found in his second epistle to them. The immediate context of 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 addresses a specific issue within the Corinthian church concerning an individual who had caused great sorrow (likely the man involved in incest from 1 Corinthians 5, though not explicitly named here). Paul had previously sent a "painful letter" (2 Cor 2:4) to address this sin and a challenge to his apostolic authority, which led to the church disciplining the offender.

By 2 Corinthians 2:7, Paul learns that the discipline has achieved its desired effect: the individual has repented and is overwhelmed with sorrow. Now, Paul shifts from advocating discipline to urging compassion and restoration. His concern is that the offender might be crushed by excessive sorrow. Therefore, verse 8 becomes a direct plea for the church to corporately reaffirm their love, comforting the repentant one and reintegrating him into the fellowship. This act of love is critical to prevent Satan from gaining an advantage through prolonged unforgiveness or despair (2 Cor 2:11), which could harm both the individual and the church body. The overarching theme is balancing holy discipline with restoring grace and love.

2 Corinthians 2 8 Word analysis

• Therefore (διό - dio): A conjunction that signifies a conclusion or inference. It logically connects Paul’s previous instruction about forgiving and comforting the repenting brother (v. 7) to this new imperative to actively confirm love for him. It points to the direct consequence of the disciplinary action achieving its desired effect.

• I urge (παρακαλέω - parakaleō): This Greek verb carries multiple nuances: to call to one's side, to exhort, entreat, implore, comfort, encourage, or appeal. Here, it reflects Paul's fervent appeal or strong pastoral plea rather than a stern command. It demonstrates his heartfelt concern and empathetic desire for the Corinthians to respond correctly out of love, not just obligation.

• you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): The second person plural pronoun, referring collectively to the entire Corinthian church community. This highlights that the responsibility for reconciliation and reaffirmation rests not just with the leaders but with the corporate body of believers, who must demonstrate their love openly.

• to reaffirm (κυρῶσαι - kyrōsai): The aorist infinitive of κυρόω (kyroō). This verb means "to confirm," "to ratify," "to make valid," "to establish as binding or authoritative." It often has a legal or formal connotation, implying a public, official declaration or act of making something binding. In this context, it means they are to officially, outwardly, and genuinely establish their love as valid and real for the individual, validating their forgiveness and re-acceptance into fellowship. Their love should be demonstrated concretely and without reservation.

• your love (τὴν ἀγάπην - tēn agapēn): Refers to agapē, the distinctively Christian love—a selfless, sacrificial, God-initiated love. It is a love that wills the good of the other, acting out of profound commitment rather than mere emotion. Here, it signifies the church’s profound and active Christian affection and acceptance for the repented brother, a love that overcomes the offense and embraces restoration.

• for him (εἰς αὐτόν - eis auton): Literally "into him" or "towards him." This specifies the direction and recipient of the agapē love. It emphasizes that this reaffirmation is not just a general sense of forgiveness but is personally directed toward the disciplined individual, making it clear to him that he is fully accepted back into their fold.

• Therefore I urge you: This phrase encapsulates Paul's transition from the severity of discipline to the necessity of restorative grace. It reveals his pastoral heart, leading the church to complete the redemptive process for the individual. The urgency reflects the potential spiritual danger to the brother if left in despair.

• to reaffirm your love: This combination of kyroō and agapē is potent. It means their love is not just a passive feeling but an active, official, and publicly visible commitment. They are to formally and convincingly demonstrate the truth and sincerity of their Christian love by accepting the individual back fully, ensuring no lingering resentment or stigma.

• your love for him: Specifies the exact object of their restorative actions. It's a call for the corporate church to extend concrete agapē toward the individual who had caused sorrow, assuring him of his forgiveness and acceptance. This counters any tendency toward prolonged shunning or emotional detachment after disciplinary action.

2 Corinthians 2 8 Bonus section

• The need to "reaffirm" suggests that the church's love had been withdrawn or obscured during the disciplinary period, and now it must be clearly and officially reinstated. This underscores the intentional nature of Christian love and forgiveness.
• Paul's personal distress and tearful letter (2 Cor 2:4) highlight the deep emotional investment an apostle or spiritual leader has in the well-being and holiness of the church. His directives were born out of genuine concern for their spiritual health and not out of mere obligation or desire for control.
• This verse stands as a profound testament to the biblical principle that church discipline, while necessary, is always redemptive in purpose. It aims to restore, not to permanently alienate or destroy. The "grief" and "sorrow" of both the church and the offender served a sanctifying purpose, leading to genuine repentance and now, full reconciliation.
• The absence of the offender's name ensures focus on the principles of discipline and restoration rather than sensationalizing a specific sin or individual.

2 Corinthians 2 8 Commentary

2 Corinthians 2:8 encapsulates a crucial turning point in Paul's pastoral strategy with the Corinthian church. Having previously urged them to deal firmly with sin and its consequences through discipline, Paul now guides them into the equally vital act of restoration. The discipline, aimed at repentance, has achieved its purpose: the individual who caused offense is now overcome with sorrow. Paul's appeal to "reaffirm your love for him" is therefore a deeply compassionate and wise directive.

The emphasis on "reaffirming" (κυρῶσαι - kyrosai) signifies that this love must be made clear, established, and formally validated in the eyes of the disciplined brother and the church. It is not enough for the Corinthians to merely stop being harsh; they must actively and publicly demonstrate their unconditional agapē for him. This goes beyond a private sentiment to a corporate action of acceptance, effectively nullifying the previous act of exclusion and cementing the individual’s full re-entry into the community. Paul understood that genuine Christian love embraces forgiveness and healing. This act prevents the repentant individual from being consumed by overwhelming grief and despair, which could serve as a spiritual foothold for Satan (2 Cor 2:11). The church's responsibility, then, is to provide comfort, reaffirm acceptance, and assure the brother that he is indeed loved and welcomed back, preventing any bitterness or accusation from festering.

Practically, this could involve:

• Openly welcoming the individual back into fellowship activities.
• Speaking words of encouragement and forgiveness.
• Treating the person without suspicion or judgment.