The big picture
2 Corinthians 2 opens in verse 1 with “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be…”, and closes in verse 17 with “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of…” Repeated or prominent terms include Christ, savour, forgave, forgive, lest. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Corinthians · King James Version · 172 Corinthians 2:1-6
1–6: I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in…
2 Corinthians 2:1–6 opens with “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.” and reaches “Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 2 develops its own movement around Christ, savour, forgave, forgive, lest, with particular weight carried by grieved, sorry, wrote.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include determined, heaviness, myself. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Corinthians 2:1-6
King James Version1But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3And 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.
4For 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.
5But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2 Corinthians 2:7-12
7–12: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him…
2 Corinthians 2:7–12 opens with “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one…” and reaches “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 2 develops its own movement around Christ, savour, forgave, forgive, lest, with particular weight carried by forgave, forgive, lest.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Corinthians 2:7-12
King James Version7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2 Corinthians 2:13-17
13–17: I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but…
2 Corinthians 2:13–17 opens with “I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I…” and reaches “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 2 develops its own movement around Christ, savour, forgave, forgive, lest, with particular weight carried by savour, Christ, death.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
2 Corinthians 2:13-17
King James Version13I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Corinthians 2:1 begins with “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Corinthians 2:5 forms a natural hinge: “But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.”
The final note
2 Corinthians 2:17 leaves the reader with “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Christ, savour, forgave, forgive, lest, death help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which gifts come before the prohibition?
Life, the garden, food and meaningful work. The command occurs inside generosity.
How does chapter 2 deepen chapter 1?
It concentrates on dependence, partnership and responsibility within the shared human calling.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.