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2 Corinthians · Free Bible Version

2 Corinthians 2 Free Bible Version

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  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Dynamic (thought for thought)
  • 2018
  • CC BY-SA 4.0

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

1 That's why I decided that I would avoid another sad visit with you. 2 For if I make you sad, who will be there to make me happy? It won't be those I've made sad! 3 That's why I wrote what I did, so that I wouldn't be sad over those who should make me happy. I was so sure that all of you would share in my happiness. 4 I was crying many tears when I wrote to you, in great anguish and with a heavy heart—not to make you sad, but so you would know how much love I have for you. 5 Not to put it too strongly, but the person caused more pain to all of you than to me. 6 This person suffered enough punishment from the majority of you, 7 so now you should forgive him and be kind to him. Otherwise he may sink into despair. 8 So I urge you to publicly affirm your love towards him. 9 That's why I wrote, so I could discoverer your true character and whether you're doing everything you were told to do. 10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. What I have forgiven, whatever it may be, I have forgiven before Christ for your benefit. 11 In this way Satan will not be able to take us in, because we know the tricks he thinks up. 12 Now when I arrived in Troas to spread the good news of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 13 But my mind wasn't at peace because I couldn't find my brother Titus. So I said goodbye and went over to Macedonia. 14 But praise be to God, who always leads us in a triumphal procession in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet scent of his knowledge wherever we go! 15 We are like a fragrance of Christ to God, rising up from among those who are being saved as well as those who are dying. 16 To those who are dying it is the smell of decay, while to those who are being saved it is the scent of life! But who is up to such an assignment? 17 We are not like the majority who trade in the word of God for profit. Quite the opposite: we are sincere in sharing the word of God in Christ, knowing God is watching us.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Titus

    Coworker and partner of Paul

    A Greek coworker of Paul, not compelled to be circumcised, who carried Paul's letters to Corinth, and whom Paul left in Crete to set things in order.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Galatians 2:3

    See in the family tree

Cross references (17)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 2 Corinthians 13:10; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 12:20–21; 2 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 4:21
  2. 2 2 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 12:26; Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 11:29
  3. 3 Galatians 5:10; 2 Corinthians 8:22; Philemon 21; 2 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Corinthians 7:12
  4. 4 2 Corinthians 7:12; Proverbs 27:5–6; Leviticus 19:17–18; Luke 19:41–44; 2 Corinthians 11:2
  5. 5 1 Corinthians 5:12–13; Galatians 4:12; Galatians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 5:1–5; Proverbs 17:25
  6. 6 1 Corinthians 5:4–5; 1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Corinthians 13:10; 2 Corinthians 7:11
  7. 7 Ephesians 4:32; Galatians 6:1–2; Colossians 3:13; Isaiah 28:7; Proverbs 17:22
  8. 8 Jude 22–23; Galatians 6:10; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:1–2
  9. 9 2 Corinthians 10:6; Philemon 21; Philippians 2:22; 2 Corinthians 7:12–15; 2 Corinthians 8:24
  10. 10 John 20:23; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Matthew 18:18; 1 Corinthians 5:4
  11. 11 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11–12; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Luke 22:31
  12. 12 Acts 16:8; Acts 14:27; Colossians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 16:9; Revelation 3:7–8
  13. 13 2 Corinthians 7:5–6; 2 Corinthians 12:18; Galatians 2:1; 2 Timothy 4:10; 2 Corinthians 8:6
  14. 14 Ephesians 5:2; Romans 8:37; 2 Corinthians 2:15–16; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Romans 6:17
  15. 15 Ephesians 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ezekiel 20:41; Philippians 4:18; Genesis 8:21
  16. 16 2 Corinthians 3:5–6; John 9:39; 1 Peter 2:7–8; Luke 2:34; 1 Corinthians 15:10
  17. 17 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Peter 2:1–3; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 1 Timothy 4:1–3

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

Articles and answers on this site that cite 2 Corinthians 2.

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary 2:12 John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians (Homily V)

    These words seem on the one hand to be unworthy of Paul, if because of a brother's absence he threw away so great an opportunity of saving; and on the other, to hang apart from the context. What then?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)

  2. Quotes verse 2:17 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book IV, Chapters XXV–XXVI)

    … strain also the Apostle Paul, inasmuch as he had a good conscience, said to the Corinthians: "For we are not as many, who corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ;" "We have injured no man, corrupted no man, circumvented no man."

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  3. Quotes verse 2:14–16 Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John (Chapter XI — 1-54)

    To the one we are the savor of life unto life, to the other the savor of death unto death: and who is sufficient for these things?" The lesson of the holy Gospel before us affords us the opportunity of so speaking of that savor, that we on our part may give worthy utterance, and you diligent heed, to what …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 2:2 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily VI)

    Now if ye grieve at hearing these things, I thank you much, for "who is he that maketh me glad, but he which is made sorry by me?" Do not then ever cease to grieve and be vexed for them, for the sorrow that comes of such things will be to you a beginning of a change for the better.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  5. Quotes verse 2:15 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture XXI)

    Then on the nostrils; that receiving the sacred ointment ye may say, We are to God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)