Bible Strands

2 Corinthians 2:4

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian believers following a prior letter of correction, explaining his emotional state before his planned visit. The text states he composed the correspondence amid intense personal sorrow rather than detached authority.

The words — The original text pairs ἔγραψα (egrapsa, "I wrote") with θλίψεως (thlipseōs, "affliction/distress") and συνοχῆς (sunochēs, "anguish"), showing the letter emerged from emotional pressure rather than clinical instruction.

The thread — The passage aligns with 2 Corinthians 7:12, which notes the writing aimed to reveal the Corinthians' earnestness on Paul's behalf, and reflects the direct confrontation model in Leviticus 19:17 and Proverbs 27:5.

Why it lands — The text states the goal was to demonstrate love rather than inflict pain, requiring readers to evaluate whether their own corrective communication seeks restoration or merely asserts control.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἐκekOut ofγὰρgarforπολλῆςpollēsmuchθλίψεωςthlipseōsafflictionκαὶkaiandσυνοχῆςsunochēsanguishκαρδίαςkardiasof heartἔγραψαegrapsaI wroteὑμῖνhuminto youδιὰdiathroughπολλῶνpollōnmanyδακρύων,dakruōntears,οὐχouchnotἵναinathatλυπηθῆτε,lupēthēteyou may be grieved,ἀλλὰallabutτὴνtēntheἀγάπηνagapēnloveἵναinathatγνῶτεgnōteyou may knowἣνhēnthatἔχωechōI haveπερισσοτέρωςperissoterōsmore abundantlyεἰςeistowardὑμᾶς.¶humasyou.

King James Version

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

Cross-references