2 Corinthians 2:7
New International Version
Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

New Living Translation
Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.

English Standard Version
so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Berean Standard Bible
So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Berean Literal Bible
so that on the contrary, rather for you to forgive and to comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be overwhelmed by more abundant sorrow.

King James Bible
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

New King James Version
so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

New American Standard Bible
so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

NASB 1995
so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

NASB 1977
so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that on the contrary you should rather graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow.

Amplified Bible
so instead [of further rebuke, now] you should rather [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage him, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Christian Standard Bible
As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

American Standard Version
so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.

Contemporary English Version
When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won't give up in despair.

English Revised Version
so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So now forgive and comfort him. Such distress could overwhelm someone like that if he's not forgiven and comforted.

Good News Translation
Now, however, you should forgive him and encourage him, in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up completely.

International Standard Version
So forgive and comfort him, or else he will drown in his excessive grief.

Majority Standard Bible
So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

NET Bible
so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.

New Heart English Bible
so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

Webster's Bible Translation
So that on the other hand, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

Weymouth New Testament
So that you may now take the opposite course, and forgive him rather and comfort him, for fear he should perhaps be driven to despair by his excess of grief.

World English Bible
so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
so that, on the contrary, [it is] rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;

Berean Literal Bible
so that on the contrary, rather for you to forgive and to comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be overwhelmed by more abundant sorrow.

Young's Literal Translation
so that, on the contrary, it is rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;

Smith's Literal Translation
So that on the contrary ye should rather show kindness, and console, lest perhaps such be swallowed down with more abundant sadness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, to the contrary, you should be more forgiving and consoling, lest perhaps someone like this may be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow.

New American Bible
so that on the contrary you should forgive and encourage him instead, or else the person may be overwhelmed by excessive pain.

New Revised Standard Version
so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So that from henceforth you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one will be overcome with overmuch grief.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And now on the other hand, it is necessary to forgive him and comfort him, lest he who is such be swallowed up in excessive grief.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
so that, on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such a one should be swallowed up in too much sorrow.

Godbey New Testament
so on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one may be swallowed up with excessive grief.

Haweis New Testament
Wherefore, on the contrary, ye rather ought to forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up with excess of sorrow.

Mace New Testament
so that now you ought rather to forgive, and comfort him, for fear he should be overwhelm'd by an excess of sorrow.

Weymouth New Testament
So that you may now take the opposite course, and forgive him rather and comfort him, for fear he should perhaps be driven to despair by his excess of grief.

Worrell New Testament
so that, on the contrary, ye ought rather to forgive and console him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

Worsley New Testament
So that on the contrary, ye ought rather to forgive and comfort him, least such a one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Reaffirm Your Love
6The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.…

Cross References
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Luke 17:3-4
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. / Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, / consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Hebrews 12:12-13
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. / Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Psalm 103:8-10
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.


Treasury of Scripture

So that contrariwise you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

ye.

Galatians 6:1,2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted…

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

swallowed.

2 Corinthians 5:4
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2 Samuel 20:19,20
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? …

Psalm 21:9
Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

overmuch.

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Philippians 2:27
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Jump to Previous
Comfort Contrariwise Contrary Course Despair Driven Encourage Excess Excessive Fear Forgive Forgiveness Grace Grief Hand Instead Means Opposite Otherwise Ought Over-Great Overmuch Overwhelmed Perhaps Rather Right Shew Sorrow Swallowed Turn
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Comfort Contrariwise Contrary Course Despair Driven Encourage Excess Excessive Fear Forgive Forgiveness Grace Grief Hand Instead Means Opposite Otherwise Ought Over-Great Overmuch Overwhelmed Perhaps Rather Right Shew Sorrow Swallowed Turn
2 Corinthians 2
1. Having shown the reason why he came not to them,
6. he requires them to forgive and to comfort that excommunicated person,
10. even as he himself upon true repentance had forgiven him;
12. declaring why he departed from Troas to Macedonia,
14. and the happy success which God gave to his preaching in all places.














So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him
This phrase emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and comfort within the Christian community. In the context of 2 Corinthians, Paul is addressing the issue of a member of the church who has sinned and faced disciplinary action. The call to forgive reflects the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized forgiveness in passages like Matthew 6:14-15. Comforting the individual aligns with the role of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter (John 14:26), suggesting that believers should emulate this aspect of God's character. The cultural context of the early church involved a strong sense of community, where reconciliation was vital for maintaining unity and witness to the surrounding society.

so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow
This phrase highlights the potential consequences of failing to forgive and comfort. Excessive sorrow can lead to despair, which is contrary to the hope offered in Christ. The historical context of the Corinthian church involved dealing with issues of immorality and division, as seen in 1 Corinthians. Paul’s concern is pastoral, aiming to restore the individual to fellowship and prevent spiritual harm. This reflects the broader biblical theme of restoration, as seen in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), where the father's forgiveness leads to the son's restoration. Theologically, it underscores the balance between justice and mercy, a theme central to the character of God throughout Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter, addressing the church in Corinth with guidance on how to handle a situation involving a repentant sinner.

2. The Corinthian Church
The recipients of the letter, a Christian community in Corinth dealing with issues of sin and forgiveness within their congregation.

3. The Offender
An unnamed individual in the Corinthian church who had sinned and was subject to church discipline, now seeking forgiveness and restoration.

4. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its diverse population and moral challenges, which influenced the issues faced by the church there.

5. Forgiveness and Comfort
Key themes in this passage, emphasizing the need for the church to extend grace and support to the repentant sinner.
Teaching Points
The Necessity of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not optional for Christians; it is a command. Just as God forgives us, we are called to forgive others, reflecting His grace and mercy.

The Role of Comfort in Restoration
Comforting the repentant sinner is crucial to their healing and restoration. It prevents them from being overwhelmed by sorrow and encourages their reintegration into the community.

Avoiding Excessive Sorrow
Excessive sorrow can lead to despair and alienation. By forgiving and comforting, we help prevent the destructive cycle of guilt and shame.

The Power of Community in Healing
The church community plays a vital role in the healing process. Through collective forgiveness and support, the community reflects Christ's love and fosters spiritual growth.

The Greek Root of Forgive (charizomai)
The Greek word used for "forgive" implies a gracious act, freely given. It underscores the unmerited favor we are to extend to others, just as God extends His grace to us.(7) Ye ought rather to forgive.--The indignation which St. Paul had felt has passed, on his hearing of the offender's state, into pity and anxiety. The time had come for words of pardon and comfort and counsel. What if he should be "swallowed up," and sink as in the great deep of sorrow? Suicide, madness, apostasy, seem to float before his mind as but too possible results.

Verse 7. - Contrariwise; i.e. contrary to the line taken or to the view expressed by the severer portion of the community. Rather. The word is omitted in A and B. To forgive him. The word is used of the mutual attitude of gracious forbearance which ought to exist among Christians(Forgiving one another," Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13), so that they might be not only Christians, but as Gentiles ignorantly called them, Chrestians (" kind-hearted," Ephesians 4:82). And comfort; i.e. "strengthen," "encourage." The "him" is emitted in the Greek, with the same delicate, compassionate reticence which leads St. Paul to speak of this person "a man of such of a kind." In Galatians 6:11 St. Paul suddenly breaks off the course of his remarks to give similar advice in a tone of peculiar solemnity; and in 2 Thessalonians 3:15 he warns against any excess in the severity which he enjoins in the previous verse. Such a one. Like the indefinite "one" in 1 Corinthians 5:5. In the Greek it is compassionately placed last in the clause. Should be swallowed up. The same metaphor, of being swallowed in an abyss, occurs in 1 Corinthians 15:54. In 1 Peter 5:8 it is said that Satan is ever striving to "swallow up" men. With overmuch sorrow; rather, with the, or his, excessive grief. Despair might drive the man to suicide, or apostasy, or the wretchlessness of unclean living.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
ὥστε (hōste)
Conjunction
Strong's 5620: So that, therefore, so then, so as to. From hos and te; so too, i.e. Thus therefore.

instead,
τοὐναντίον (tounantion)
Adverb - Comparative
Strong's 5121: On the contrary, on the other hand. Contraction for the neuter of ho and enantion; on the contrary.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

ought to forgive
χαρίσασθαι (charisasthai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Strong's 5483: (a) To show favor to, (b) To pardon, forgive, (c) To show kindness.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

comfort [him],
παρακαλέσαι (parakalesai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3870: From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke.

so that
πως (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

he
τοιοῦτος (toioutos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5108: (including the other inflections); from toi and houtos; truly this, i.e. Of this sort (to denote character or individuality).

will not be overwhelmed
καταποθῇ (katapothē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2666: To drink down, swallow, devour, destroy, consume. From kata and pino; to drink down, i.e. Gulp entire.

by
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

excessive
περισσοτέρᾳ (perissotera)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 4053: From peri; superabundant or superior; by implication, excessive; adverbially violently; neuter preeminence.

sorrow.
λύπῃ (lypē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3077: Pain, grief, sorrow, affliction. Apparently a primary word; sadness.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 2:7 So that on the contrary you should (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 2:6
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