2 Corinthians 2:3

1 So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.

2 For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved?

I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.

4 For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.

5 Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you—to some degree, not to overstate it.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.
KJV
And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
WEB
And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you.
ASV
And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all.
DARBY
And I have written this very [letter] [to you], that coming I may not have grief from those from whom I ought to have joy; trusting in you all that my joy is [that] of you all.
BLB
And I wrote this same thing so that, having come, I might not have grief from [those] for whom it was necessary for me to rejoice, having been confident in you⁺ all, that my joy is of all of you⁺.
ÅB
Og just i det øyemed skrev jeg, for at jeg ikke, når jeg kom, skulle få sorg av dem som jeg burde ha glede av, idet jeg har den tillit til dere alle at min glede er deres alles glede.
OTB
Dette er nettopp det jeg skrev til dere, slik at når jeg kom, ville jeg ikke ha sorg fra dem som burde gi meg glede; i tillit til dere alle at min glede ville bli delt av dere alle.
B1930
Og just i det øiemed skrev jeg, forat jeg ikke, når jeg kom, skulde få sorg av dem som jeg burde ha glede av, idet jeg har den tillit til eder alle at min glede er eders alles glede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Galatians 5:10

    I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 8:22

    And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.

    Read in context
  • Philemon 1:21

    Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

    Read in context
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:4

    And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 7:12

    So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 12:21–13:2

    I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 12:11

    I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 7:6

    But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,

    Read in context