2 Corinthians 7 12

2 Corinthians 7:12 kjv

Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

2 Corinthians 7:12 nkjv

Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

2 Corinthians 7:12 niv

So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.

2 Corinthians 7:12 esv

So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 7:12 nlt

My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us.

2 Corinthians 7 verses

2 Corinthians 7 12 Meaning

Paul clarifies the true intention behind his previous severe letter to the Corinthian church. It was not primarily written to specifically punish the offender or console the victim, though these were elements. Rather, the ultimate purpose was to reveal and make evident the Corinthians' genuine loyalty, repentance, and obedience, demonstrating their earnestness for Paul and for God in their handling of the disciplinary matter. Their spiritual readiness and their heartfelt response to Paul's instruction, seen by God Himself, was the paramount concern.

2 Corinthians 7 12 Context

This verse is situated within Paul's emotional appeal and explanation to the Corinthian church following his "painful letter" (likely 1 Corinthians, or a severe letter now lost, mentioned in 2 Cor 2:3-4). The Corinthian church had fallen into various moral failures and factions, including tolerating an incestuous relationship and questioning Paul's apostolic authority. Paul had sent Titus to Corinth, awaiting his report in Macedonia with great anxiety (2 Cor 2:13, 7:5). Upon Titus' return, he brought news of the Corinthians' sorrow, repentance, and eagerness to clear themselves (2 Cor 7:7-11). Paul is now articulating that while his letter caused them grief, that grief was a "godly grief" that led to repentance and reconciliation. In 2 Cor 7:12, Paul seeks to clarify his deeper motivation for writing such a severe letter, emphasizing that it transcended mere adjudication of a specific wrong, aiming instead at the spiritual health and sincere loyalty of the entire community, observed in the eyes of God.

2 Corinthians 7 12 Word analysis

• So although I wrote to you (Greek: Ὥστε εἰ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν - Hōste ei kai egrapsa hymin)

  • Ὥστε (Hōste): "So then," "therefore," "accordingly." It signals a conclusion or an explanation flowing from what precedes, specifically their positive response mentioned in verses 9-11.
  • εἰ καὶ (ei kai): "Even though," "although." It introduces a concession, acknowledging that the letter indeed caused pain.
  • ἔγραψα (egrapsa): "I wrote" (aorist active indicative of γράφω, graphō). Refers to the letter that brought them grief, highlighting Paul's past decisive action.
  • ὑμῖν (hymin): "To you," emphasizing the letter's direct address to the Corinthian church.

• it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong (οὐχ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος - ouch heneken tou adikēsantos)

  • οὐχ (ouch): "Not," a strong negation.
  • ἕνεκεν (heneken): "For the sake of," "on account of," indicating the primary purpose.
  • τοῦ ἀδικήσαντος (tou adikēsantos): "The one who did the wrong" (genitive masculine singular present participle of ἀδικέω, adikeō). This refers to the specific individual who caused the offense. This is most commonly understood as the incestuous man mentioned in 1 Cor 5:1. However, some scholars suggest it might refer to someone who personally offended Paul, challenging his authority. The primary point is that dealing with this individual was not Paul's ultimate objective.

• nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong (οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος - oude heneken tou adikēthentos)

  • οὐδὲ (oude): "Nor," connecting to the previous negation.
  • ἕνεκεν (heneken): Again, "for the sake of."
  • τοῦ ἀδικηθέντος (tou adikēthentos): "The one who suffered the wrong" (genitive masculine singular aorist passive participle of ἀδικέω, adikeō). This refers to the victim. If the first referred to the incestuous man, the wronged party could be the father or the wider community whose integrity was compromised (1 Cor 5:1, 6). If the first was an insult against Paul, then Paul himself would be the wronged party. Paul moves beyond this dual concern, pointing to a larger, communal and spiritual purpose.

• but in order that your earnestness for us (ἀλλ᾿ ἀλλ᾿ ἀλλ᾿ ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀλλὰ τὴν σπουδὴν ὑμῶν τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν - all' all' all' enōpion hymōn pros hēmas alla tēn spoudēn hymōn tēn hyper hēmōn)

  • ἀλλ᾿ (all'): "But," a strong adversative, introducing the actual purpose.
  • ἡ σπουδὴ ὑμῶν (hē spoudē hymōn): "Your earnestness," "your diligence," "your eagerness" (nominative feminine singular of σπουδή, spoudē). This is a crucial word. It denotes zeal, swiftness, painstaking care, readiness to act. It points to their sincere spiritual responsiveness, not just legal compliance. It encapsulates their sorrow, repentance, and obedience to Paul's instructions.
  • τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν (tēn hyper hēmōn): "That for us" or "your earnestness on our behalf." This phrase emphasizes that their earnestness was directed towards upholding Paul's authority and relationship with them as their spiritual father and apostle. It signifies their loyalty and genuine concern for him and his ministry.

• might be revealed to you in the sight of God (φανερωθῇ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ - phanerōthē pros hymas enōpion tou Theou)

  • φανερωθῇ (phanerōthē): "Might be revealed," "made manifest," "made visible" (aorist passive subjunctive of φανερόω, phaneroō). The subjunctive mood indicates purpose. The aim was for this earnestness to be fully displayed and evident.
  • πρὸς ὑμᾶς (pros hymas): "To you," or "among you." This means the revelation was for the Corinthians themselves to recognize their own sincere spiritual state, possibly seeing it corporately.
  • ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ (enōpion tou Theou): "In the sight of God," "before God." This is a profound and weighty phrase. It elevates the assessment of their response from human judgment to divine scrutiny. It means their repentance, their zeal, and their loyalty were truly authentic and acknowledged by God Himself. This authenticates their internal spiritual transformation. It is not just about Paul knowing, or them knowing, but God observing and validating their sincerity.

• Words-group Analysis

  • "not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong": This phrasing signals Paul's shift from focusing on individual legal culpability or compensation, typical in human justice systems, to a higher spiritual concern. He isn't dismissive of the specific wrong but reframes the primary purpose. The specific wrong (the "painful letter's" subject) served as a catalyst for a greater test and demonstration of the church's collective spiritual condition.
  • "but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God": This is the core statement of purpose. It shifts the focus from the offense itself to the Corinthians' response. The revelation ("phanerōthē") is a public, verifiable manifestation of their true spiritual state. The phrase "for us" (ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν) connects their earnestness to their respect for Paul's apostolic authority, recognizing that their obedience to him was ultimately obedience to God's messenger. Crucially, "in the sight of God" (ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ) emphasizes that the legitimacy and depth of their repentance and earnestness were judged not by human opinion or Paul's own satisfaction, but by God, the ultimate discerner of hearts (1 Chr 29:17; Jer 17:10). It authenticates their response as truly godly, not mere external conformity.

2 Corinthians 7 12 Bonus section

• The ambiguity of "the one who did the wrong" and "the one who suffered the wrong" could be a deliberate choice by Paul. By not specifying, he encourages the Corinthians to focus on the broader principle of repentance and sincerity rather than getting caught up in the minutiae of individual personalities or specific incidents, which had often plagued the church. The focus is shifted to the reaction to sin and the restoration of order and relationship.
• This verse underpins the importance of church discipline as restorative, not merely punitive. The aim of discipline, whether through strong rebukes or direct action, is to prompt godly sorrow and sincere repentance within the individual and the wider body, thereby restoring them to right relationship with God and the community.
• The phrase "earnestness for us" is profound. It demonstrates that the Corinthians' repentance for their sin and their obedience to Paul's instructions was directly tied to their relationship with Paul as God's apostle. Their loyalty to him and his message reflected their loyalty to Christ. This highlights the apostolic authority and the integral role of God-appointed leaders in guiding the church toward spiritual health.

2 Corinthians 7 12 Commentary

Paul's assertion in 2 Cor 7:12 is a powerful testament to the spiritual and relational nature of his ministry. He acknowledges the pain his earlier letter caused but reframes its ultimate goal. It was not mere punishment (retributive justice) nor simple advocacy for a victim (compensatory justice). Instead, the whole ordeal served as a crucible for the Corinthians' faith and allegiance. Paul was less concerned with merely solving a problem as he was with testing the spiritual mettle of the entire church. He sought to provoke a response that would clearly reveal their sincere "earnestness" (σπουδή) – their spiritual diligence, readiness, and heartfelt obedience not just to Paul, but ultimately to God's call for holiness and order within the community. The crucial phrase "in the sight of God" elevates the entire matter from a human dispute to a divine assessment. Their genuine repentance and alignment with Paul's apostolic direction would prove their integrity before God, confirming their walk was authentic. It signifies that true reconciliation extends beyond resolving interpersonal conflict; it is rooted in a right standing and sincere heart before the Lord, made evident through obedience to His divinely appointed agents.