2 Corinthians 7:4 kjv
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
2 Corinthians 7:4 nkjv
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
2 Corinthians 7:4 niv
I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
2 Corinthians 7:4 esv
I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
2 Corinthians 7:4 nlt
I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.
2 Corinthians 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 7:4 | "Great is my confidence in you; I am full of comfort; in all our affliction I am exceedingly joyful." | Paul's confidence in believers |
| 1 Cor 1:4 | "I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." | Gratitude for faith |
| Phil 1:3 | "I thank my God every time I remember you." | Remembrance and thanks |
| Phil 4:1 | "Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown—stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!" | Joy and calling |
| Col 1:24 | "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." | Rejoicing in suffering for the church |
| 1 Thes 2:19 | "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?" | Hope, joy, and crown |
| Phlm 1:7 | "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people." | Encouragement from love |
| 1 Pet 1:6 | "So you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." | Rejoicing in trials |
| Rom 15:13 | "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." | God of hope and joy |
| Gal 5:22 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," | Fruit of the Spirit |
| John 15:11 | "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." | Complete joy |
| Rom 5:2 | "through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." | Boasting in hope |
| 2 Cor 1:11 | "as you also help us by prayer, so that many thanks may be given for our behalf for the gift granted us through many prayers." | Mutual prayer and thanks |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." | Boasting in weakness for Christ's power |
| Heb 12:2 | "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." | Joy in enduring suffering |
| 1 Pet 4:12 | "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something new has happened to you." | Surprises in trials |
| Jam 1:2 | "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds," | Joy in trials |
| Rom 12:15 | "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn." | Empathy and rejoicing |
| 1 Thess 5:16 | "Rejoice always," | Command to rejoice |
| Ps 16:11 | "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." | Joy in God's presence |
2 Corinthians 7 verses
2 Corinthians 7 4 Meaning
The Apostle Paul is expressing immense confidence and comfort regarding the Corinthians, stemming from the confidence he has in them. He feels deeply proud and fully assured in their obedience and the purity of their faith. This assurance provides him with great encouragement and joy.
2 Corinthians 7 4 Context
This verse is part of Paul's fervent defense of his apostolic ministry in Corinth. In the preceding chapter (2 Corinthians 6), Paul urges the Corinthians to separation from unbelief and to embrace God's reconciliation. Chapter 7 builds upon this by expressing his heartfelt feelings after receiving a letter from them, which he likely penned with sorrow. However, upon hearing Titus' report about their repentance and response to his previous letter, Paul’s sorrow turns to joy. He elaborates on the positive outcomes of godly sorrow and emphasizes the maturity and earnestness they demonstrated. Chapter 7 verse 4 serves as a powerful expression of Paul's profound comfort, joy, and immense confidence in the Corinthians, specifically because of their sincere repentance and the positive impact it had on their relationship with God and with him.
2 Corinthians 7 4 Word Analysis
Mega (μεγάλη): Great; large; extensive. It signifies the immense size or degree of his confidence.
Moi (μοί): To me; for me. This is the dative case, indicating to whom the confidence belongs.
Parresia (παρρησία): Boldness of speech; confidence; openness. It suggests Paul speaks freely and confidently due to his assurance in them. This confidence isn't arrogance, but a trust in God's work within them.
En Humin (ἐν ὑμῖν): In you; among you. It specifies the locus of his confidence – within the Corinthian believers themselves, or in their midst as a community.
Eimi (εἰμί): I am. The verb to be, stating a present reality.
Pepleromai (πεπλήρωμαι): I am filled; I am abounding; I am superabundant. This is the perfect passive of plēroō, indicating a state of fullness achieved through a completed action. It implies a deep, overflowing state.
Tē Paraklēsei (τῇ παρακλήσει): By the comfort; with the comfort. The comfort Paul experiences is significant. It is directly linked to their repentance and their faith. Paraklēsis can mean comfort, exhortation, or encouragement.
Hyperplisseousai (ὑπερπλεονάζοντες): Exceeding; abounding exceedingly; overflowing with. This is a present participle modifying the implied action of their response, indicating their abundance of eagerness. However, the King James and NKJV read "exceeding joyful", referring to Paul's state. It suggests his joy is overflowing due to their abundant affirmation.
En Pasē (ἐν πάσῃ): In all. Denotes completeness.
Thlipsis (θλίψει): Affliction; tribulation; distress; pressure. Refers to the difficulties and pressures he faced, particularly concerning his ministry in Corinth.
Chara (χαρᾷ): Joy; gladness. The resulting emotion from their positive response.
Mugalo (μεγαλύνομαι): I am made great; I exult; I rejoice greatly. This is the present passive of megalynō. It signifies a profound, expansive rejoicing.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Great is my confidence in you" (Μεγάλη ἐστὶν ἡ παρρησία μου ἐν ὑμῖν): This phrase signifies Paul's absolute assurance and unreserved communication regarding the Corinthians. The "boldness" or "confidence" arises not from his own strength but from God's enablement, confirmed by their responsive hearts.
- "I am filled with comfort" (ἐγὼ πεπλήρωμαι τῇ παρακλήσει): This indicates that Paul’s spiritual need for reassurance and positive affirmation was met to the point of overflow. The comfort he receives is substantial, countering the anxieties or doubts that may have arisen previously.
- "I exceedingly rejoice" (ὑπερπερισσεύω): This idiom emphasizes the superabundant nature of Paul's joy. It is not mere happiness but an overwhelming delight stemming directly from their steadfastness and true repentance, even amidst his own afflictions.
- "in all our affliction" (ἐν πάσῃ θλίψει): This qualification highlights the depth of his joy. Despite the presence of ongoing "affliction" or "tribulation" (plural usage can refer to a singular condition experienced in multiple facets, or multiple instances), his joy remains extraordinarily high, demonstrating its supernatural source.
2 Corinthians 7 4 Bonus Section
This verse encapsulates a crucial aspect of Paul's ministry: his deep emotional investment in the churches he served. His joy is directly linked to their spiritual well-being and maturity, highlighting the relational nature of Christian leadership and discipleship. The phrase "in all our affliction" points to the constant pressures and difficulties faced by early Christian missionaries. Yet, the overwhelming joy described is a demonstration of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who produces joy as a fruit that can transcend temporal troubles. Paul’s experience here also mirrors his theology concerning suffering and boasting – the difficulties paradoxically become a context for experiencing God’s grace and for rejoicing in His faithfulness, further amplified by the positive witness of other believers.
2 Corinthians 7 4 Commentary
Paul’s declaration here is a powerful testament to the transforming impact of genuine repentance and God’s grace at work in a community. His immense confidence is rooted in their spiritual response, which not only assures him of their spiritual health but also provides deep solace and jubilant joy even while he endures difficulties. This experience underscores that Christian joy and assurance are not dependent on outward circumstances but on the faithfulness of God and the obedient hearts of believers. The juxtaposition of "affliction" and "exceeding joyful" shows that the Spirit’s fruit of joy can flourish powerfully in the midst of suffering, especially when confirmed by evidence of genuine faith in others. His "boldness" implies a clear conscience and a solid foundation of truth in their shared ministry.