2 Corinthians 7:3 kjv
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
2 Corinthians 7:3 nkjv
I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
2 Corinthians 7:3 niv
I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.
2 Corinthians 7:3 esv
I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
2 Corinthians 7:3 nlt
I'm not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.
2 Corinthians 7 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Corinthians 7:2 | "Make room in your hearts for us." | Encouragement for open affection |
| Romans 1:11-12 | "longing to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift...so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith." | Mutual encouragement |
| Galatians 4:19 | "My little children, for whom I am again in anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you," | Parental love and pain for spiritual birth |
| Philippians 2:20 | "For I have no one like him, who will genuinely care for your welfare." | Care for the well-being of others |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 | "we were gentleness among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children, so we greatly desired to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." | Gentle and self-giving love |
| Colossians 2:5 | "For though I am absent in body, I am present in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ." | Rejoicing in spiritual well-being |
| Philemon 1:16 | "no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me..." | Reclassification of relationships through Christ |
| 1 John 3:16 | "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." | True love demonstrated through sacrifice |
| Matthew 18:15-17 | Principles for church discipline and reconciliation | Restoration and community |
| Luke 15:10 | "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." | Joy in repentance |
| Acts 20:31 | "Therefore be watchful, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears." | Constant loving admonition |
| 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 | "I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel." | Fatherly love and instruction |
| 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may also comfort those who are in any trouble..." | God as the source of comfort |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." | The nature of love |
| 2 Corinthians 13:10 | "For this reason I am writing these things while I am still absent, that when I come I may not have to show sharpness in the exercise of the authority that the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down." | Building up, not tearing down |
| Proverbs 27:5 | "Open rebuke is better than hidden love." | Value of honest correction |
| Proverbs 10:12 | "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." | Love's role in covering wrongs |
| Jeremiah 31:18 | "I have surely heard Ephraim’s groaning, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined like an untamed calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God." | Repentance and restoration |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | "Repent and turn from all your transgressions; so that iniquity may not be your ruin." | Call to repentance for restoration |
| 2 Corinthians 10:8 | "For even if I boast a little excessively, it is on account of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down." | Apostolic authority for edification |
2 Corinthians 7 verses
2 Corinthians 7 3 Meaning
This verse emphasizes the deep emotional connection and trust that exists between Paul and the believers in Corinth. It assures them that any sorrow caused by his previous letter was temporary and aimed at true repentance and spiritual restoration, not his own vindication or pleasure. The sincerity of his love for them is evident in this heartfelt confession and assurance.
2 Corinthians 7 3 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 7 continues Paul's defense of his ministry and his love for the Corinthian church. Following his previous, more severe letter (often identified with 1 Corinthians or a lost letter), Paul now expresses his joy and relief at the positive response of the Corinthians to his rebuke. He acknowledges that the stern letter caused them pain and grief, but clarifies that this pain was not his objective. His goal was to bring them to repentance and spiritual health. This verse specifically highlights the intimate relationship Paul has with the Corinthians, where their spiritual welfare is of paramount importance to him, even to the point of shared sorrow. It’s a testament to his pastoral heart and the authenticity of his ministry, contrasting with those who might have sought to undermine his authority or affections for the church.
2 Corinthians 7 3 Word Analysis
- "Oὐ" (ou): "Not". A simple, strong negation.
- "γὰρ" (gar): "For" or "because". Connects this statement as a reason for his previous assurance or previous letter.
- "γράφω" (graphō): "I write". Present active indicative verb from graphō, meaning to write, inscribe, or record. It refers to his current action of writing.
- "ἐκεῖνα" (ekeina): "those things" or "those". Refers to the previous letter and its contents. It's a neuter plural demonstrative pronoun, indicating a reference to specific, past communications.
- "ἵνα" (hina): "in order that" or "so that". Expresses purpose. The purpose of writing "those things" was not as stated in the following clause.
- "λυπηθῆτε" (lupēthēte): "you might be grieved" or "you might be made sad". Second person plural aorist passive subjunctive of lupeō, meaning to grieve, to cause sorrow, to pain. The passive voice indicates the grief was caused by his letter. The subjunctive mood, with hina, points to the intended outcome, which he denies.
- "ἀλλ’" (all'): "but" or "rather". Introduces a contrast or correction to the preceding negated purpose. A shortened form of alla before a vowel.
- "εἰς" (eis): "to", "into", "for". A preposition indicating direction or purpose. Here it leads to the stated purpose.
- "ἔν" (en): "one" or "a single". Refers to one specific instance or measure.
- "μετά" (meta): "with". Indicates accompaniment.
- "ἔν" (en): "one" or "a single". Refers to one specific purpose or manner.
- "ταῦτα" (tauta): "these things". Refers to the results or manner of grieving. Neuter plural demonstrative pronoun.
- "κατὰ" (kata): "according to", "in regard to", "according to the measure of". A preposition often used to denote measure or accordance.
- "θεόν" (theon): "God". Accusative case of Theos. Indicates that the grieving is to be understood or measured according to God's will or standard.
- "Word Group: "ἵνα λυπηθῆτε" (hina lupēthēte): "so that you might be grieved". This purpose is negated by Paul. His letter did cause grief, but not solely or primarily for the purpose of causing grief itself.
- "Word Group: "ἀλλ’ εἰς ἕν τι κατὰ θεόν" (all’ eis hen ti kata theon): "but for one thing according to God". This phrase reveals the true, divine purpose behind the grief caused. It implies the grief was a means to an end, an end aligned with God's will – repentance and godly sorrow.
- "Word Group: "ἵνα" (hina): The first hina is negated, but the purpose clause it introduces points to the false accusation being made against him (that he wanted to make them sad). The subsequent implicit purpose (which is the focus of the whole paragraph and chapter) is for them to experience "one thing according to God." This highlights a correction of misunderstanding.
2 Corinthians 7 3 Bonus Section
This verse is part of Paul’s extensive explanation of the nature and effects of his ministry, particularly in response to criticisms he faced. The concept of "grieving" is a significant theme in 2 Corinthians, distinguishing between worldly grief (which leads to despair) and godly grief (which leads to repentance and salvation) (cf. 2 Cor 7:10). Paul demonstrates that true spiritual leadership often involves administering truth, even when it is painful, because the ultimate aim is reconciliation and spiritual health, not mere comfort or popularity. His vulnerability in expressing his own emotional pain ("I wish I were not so severe...") adds a layer of authentic humanity to his apostolic authority, making his ministry more relational and less authoritarian. The phrase "for one thing according to God" suggests a singular, divine purpose, reinforcing that his actions were guided by a heavenly mandate and a deep love for their souls.
2 Corinthians 7 3 Commentary
Paul’s deep pastoral concern for the Corinthians is powerfully articulated here. He’s addressing the painful experience his previous letter had caused. He wants to be crystal clear: his intention was never to inflict sadness for its own sake, nor to exert harsh authority out of spite. His pain was that his letter caused them distress. However, he immediately pivots to the greater, divine purpose behind that distress. The sorrow they experienced was not meant to be destructive, but salvific—a sorrow that aligns with God’s purposes, leading to true repentance and spiritual healing. This highlights the nature of biblical grief, which is distinct from worldly despair. Godly sorrow leads to a change of heart and life, which is precisely what Paul was praying for and ministering towards. His emotional openness here ("my heart is enlarged") shows his genuine care and desire for their ultimate good in Christ, even at the cost of their temporary pain and his own present anguish in writing.