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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Corinthians 2:2

εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ κ. τ. λ.: for if I make you sorry, who then is he that makes me glad, but he who is made sorry by me? His argument is: When I make you sorry, it is that you may repent (see chap. 2 Corinthians 7:9), and so gladden me: my change of purpose was not prompted by the desire of giving pain, but on the contrary by my fear that, if I visited you as I had intended, you would sadden me: I should have had to grieve, and be grieved by those who are the source of my purest joy. With the introductory καὶ τίς, “Who then,” the implied answer being “No one,” cf. Mark 10:26, καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι, and chap. 2 Corinthians 2:16.

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See also 2 Corinthians 2:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Corinthians 2:2. _FOR IF I MAKE YOU SORRY_] Should he have come and used his _apostolical authority_, in inflicting punishment upon the transgressors, this would have been a common cause of d...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR IF I MAKE YOU SORRY - “If when I should come among you, I should be called on to inflict sorrow by punishing your offending brethren by an act of severe discipline as soon as I came, who would the...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. HIS DEEP EXERCISE CONCERNING THEM. YET OVERCOMING. CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Burden of his Soul. (2 Corinthians 2:1 .)_ 2. Concerning the Brother who had been Disciplined. (2 Corinthians 2:5 .) 3. Over...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 Corinthians 1:23 to 2 Corinthians 2:4. Paul now states the real and sufficient reason for his apparent vacillation. He had already paid a visit to Corinth (_cf_. 2 Corinthians 13:2) which had been f...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    I call God to witness against my soul that it was because I wished to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. I am not saying this because we have any desire to domineer over your faith, but b...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    WHEN A SAINT REBUKES (2 Corinthians 1:23-24 ; 2 Corinthians 2:1-4)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IF. Greek. _ei._ App-118. MAKE... SORRY. grieve. Greek. _lupeo_, trenel. "grieve", or "cause grief" in verses: 2Co 2:2, 2 Corinthians 2:4, a. Out of twenty-six occurrences, twelve are in this Epistle...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _For if I make you sorry_ So all the principal English translators. But the rendering gives a false impression to a modern ear. The best equivalent in modern English is -if I _pain_you." The idea of s...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΚΑῚ ΤΊΣ Ὁ ΕΥ̓ΦΡΑΊΝΩΝ ΜΕ; _Who then is he that maketh me glad?_ The καί makes the question more emphatic, implying that in that case there would be distressing incongruity: comp. 2 Corinthians 2:16; Ma...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _GOD COMFORTS HIS PEOPLE 2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-6:_ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and his co-worker Timothy joined together in sending this epistle. They wrote to God's church in Corinth and to all of...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _TRYING TO AVOID SORROW 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1-4:_ Paul so much wanted to visit Corinth again. However he did not want it to be a painful visit. Just the writing of First Corinthians had caused Paul pain i...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΛΥΠΏ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΛΥΠΈΩ (G3076) быть причиной печали, огорчать. Ind. в _conj._ 1 типа, предполагающем реальность условия, ΚΑΊ (G2532) затем. Это слово продолжает предыдущее заявление, а вопр...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR IF I MAKE YOU SORRY, &C.— "For if I were to do any thing that would be a trouble to you, whom I so dearly love, nothing but a sense of duty, and hope of rectifying what was amiss among you, could...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Further Explanation of the Deferred Visit Scripture_ 2 Corinthians 2:1-4. But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow. 2 For if I make you s...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTARY SECTION 1 Discord (2 Corinthians 2:1-11) 2 For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. 2For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? FOR. Proof that he shrinks from causing them sorrow ("heaviness"). IF I. The "I" is emphatic....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 The operation of God's Spirit is here seen under three distinct figures: the anointing, the seal, and the earnest. Prophets and priests and kings were anointed for their office. They were anointed...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(B) 2:8-13. THE OBJECT AND RESULTS OF THE SEVERE LETTER_ The Apostle reminds them that to produce this godly sorrow was the object of the letter he wrote before. He then speaks of one man who has cau...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD SHOWS HIS POWER WHEN WE ARE WEAK 2 CORINTHIANS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 2 CH1V23 God is my witness. I did not return to Corinth in order to save you from a difficult situation. V24 We are not t...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHO IS HE THEN THAT MAKETH ME GLAD? — The force of the “for,” with which the verse opens, lies below the surface. He had wished to avoid a visit that would cause sorrow to himself and others, and even...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 5 A PASTOR'S HEART. 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 2:1 (R.V) WHEN Paul came to the end of the paragraph in which he defends himself from the charge of levity and untrustworthiness by app...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    TENDER-HEARTED AND FORGIVING 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 2:1 In these opening words Paul evidently refers to the sin mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1. His judgment had been strong

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    What a remarkable light is thrown on his first letter by his declaration that he wrote it "out of much affliction and anguish of heart," and "with many tears." Referring thus to his first letter, Paul...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GOD'S VERIFICATION OF PAUL'S SINCERITY God had established Paul's sincerity by backing him with signs and miracles. Since God was a promise keeper, He would not support one who was dishonest. God had...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Who is he that should make me glad? &c. The sense is to be gathered from the circumstances. He speaks of the Corinthian guilty of incest, whom he brought to sorrow and repentance, by excommunicating h...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. (2) For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? (3) And...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2._For if I make you sorry _Here we have the proof of the foregoing statement. No one willingly occasions sorrow to himself. Now Paul says, that he has such a fellow-feeling with the Corinthians, (313...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But had there been any lightness in his decisions, since, as he now informed them, he had intended to visit them on his way to Macedonia (where he was at the moment of writing this letter), and then a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR IF I MAKE YOU SORRY,.... That is, should he come among them, and be the means of fresh grief and sorrow: WHO IS HE THEN THAT MAKETH ME GLAD? such was his love and affection for them, and sympathy...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? Ver. 2. _But the same which is made, &c._] Nothing can cure a faithful minister of his _cordolium,...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But I_, &c. The apostle proceeds with his apology, begun in the preceding chapter, for delaying his visit to the Corinthians, and signifies that he had deferred it because he had determined with hims...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    IF I MAKE YOU SORRY; a delicate way of saying that he has the strongest motives not to grieve any one of them, if he can possibly avoid it; since it is from the very person grieved that he looks for h...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PAUL'S APOSTOLIC KINDNESS. Paul continues his explanation:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR IF I MAKE YOU SORRY, WHO IS HE, THEN, THAT MAKETH ME GLAD BUT THE SAME WHICH IS MADE SORRY BY ME?...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    These first few verses are a continuation of chapter 1. Paul had purposed that he would not come to the Corinthians "in heaviness," and for this reason delayed his visit. For his First Epistle was suc...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-4 The apostle desired to have a cheerful meeting with them; and he had written in confidence of their doing what was to their benefit and his comfort; and that therefore they would be glad to remove...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    When I am there, I have no refreshment or joy in that part of the citizens who are pagans, all my joy is in that part which are Christians, and constitute the church of God in that city: so as I could...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? [But I call God, who knows all things, even the searcher of hearts, to look upon the secret purposes of my...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Corinthians 2:2 For G1063 if G1487 I G1473 make G3076 you G5209 sorrowful G3076 (G5719) then G2532 who...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow. For if I make you sorry, who then is he who makes me glad but he who is made sorry by me? And I wrote this very thing...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2 Corinthians 2:2. FOR IF I MAKE YOU SORRY ‘as I knew my First Letter would,' WHO IS HE THAT MAKETH ME GLAD ‘by the happy effect which I hoped the sharpness of that Letter would produce, and now I fin...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHO THEN? (κα τισ?). For this use of κα see on Mark 10:26; John 9:36. The κα accepts the condition (first class ει--λυπω) and shows the paradox that follows. Λυπεω is old word from λυπη (sorrow) in...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Forgiving those who have fallen into sin. The ministry of the Christian. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul, Titus, an erring brother, Satan. CONCLUSION: When a brother is truly penitent for hi...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Corinthians 2:1. _But I determined that I would not come again to you in heaviness;_ but rather wait till the late scandal should subside. The offender, a man no doubt much known in the city, had la...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    FOR IF I. Paul was so much a part of the churches which he served, that their sorrow was his sorrow!!! It would give him no pleasure to make them sad, because he himself would share their sadness!...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?_ GLADNESS FOR SADNESS I. Self-improvement is preceded by dissatisfaction with self. This is true...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1 PAINFUL VISIT. Paul’s visit turned out to be “painful” because of the church’s open rebellion against him (see vv....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He declares that he had not come to them through fear of causing sadness to himself and to them. II. He exhorts them (ver. 6) to re-admit the fornicator, on his...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ (_N.B_.—_The paragraph really begins at_ 2 Corinthians 1:23.) 2 Corinthians 1:1. DETERMINED.—As in 1 Corinthians 2:2. FOR MYSELF.—So R.V., meaning, “For m

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION Continuation of his reasons for not coming to them direct from Ephesus (2 Corinthians 2:1). Their treatment of the incestuous offender (2 Corinthians 2:5). His thankfulness at the news whi...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness (2 Corinthians 2:1). "I wrote a heavy letter to you, but I was determined that I wasn't going to come again in heavi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 12:26; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 11:29; Romans 12:15...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    If I make, etc. I is emphatic, implying that there are enough others who caused them trouble. Who then is he, etc. The thought underlying the passage, 2Co 1:24 - ii. 1 - 3, is that the apostle's own j...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    For if I grieve you, who is he that cheereth me, but he that is grieved by me — That is, I cannot be comforted myself till his grief is removed....

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Old Testament