2 Corinthians — Chapter 2
2:1
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For I decided this for myself: not to come to you again in sorrow.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul avoids a visit that would renew mutual sorrow. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:1]. The web heading incorrectly reads 1:25; the quoted lemma is 2:1.
2:2
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad except the one made sorrowful by me?
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Their grief at correction reveals their attachment to Paul. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:2].
2:3
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And I wrote this very thing so that, when I came, I might not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice, being confident concerning all of you that my joy is the joy of you all.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The letter seeks their amendment and their shared joy. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:3].
2:4
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that you might be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love I have abundantly toward you.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Tears disclose the painful love behind pastoral correction. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:4].
Forgive and reaffirm love
2:5
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part—to avoid pressing too heavily—to all of you.
Textual & reception notes
The person causing sorrow is unnamed; the translation does not identify him with a person in another letter.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Restrained language softens blame while acknowledging the community's grief. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:5].
2:6
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The punishment already imposed is sufficient. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:6].
2:7
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such a person be swallowed up by excessive sorrow.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Forgiveness must include consolation, lest excessive grief produce despair. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:7].
2:8
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Therefore I urge you to confirm your love toward him.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Restoration requires renewed, active love. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:8].
2:9
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For I also wrote for this purpose: to know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in everything.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Obedience includes restoring the offender as well as disciplining him. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:9].
2:10
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, was for your sake in the presence of Christ,
Textual & reception notes
In the presence of Christ renders en prosōpō Christou; in the person of Christ is another traditional construal.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul joins the community's forgiveness rather than claiming solitary authority. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:10].
2:11
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
so that we might not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not unaware of his designs.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Excessive punishment could let Satan profit from the offender's despair. [Homily 4, on 2 Corinthians 2:11].
Troas and the aroma of Christ
2:12
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Now when I came to Troas for the good news of Christ, and a door had been opened to me in the Lord,
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: An opportunity for preaching coincides with anxiety over Titus. [Homily 5, on 2 Corinthians 2:12-13].
2:13
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking leave of them, I went out to Macedonia.
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Titus's absence intensifies Paul's loneliness and concern. [Homily 5, on 2 Corinthians 2:12-13].
2:14
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and makes manifest through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Textual & reception notes
Leads us in triumph renders the active thriambeuō with us as its object. The procession image is preserved; the English does not substitute makes us triumph or decide explicitly whether Paul is pictured as a captive.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Even suffering becomes a triumph through God's action. [Homily 5, on 2 Corinthians 2:14].
2:15
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For we are Christ’s fragrance to God among those being saved and among those perishing:
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: The gospel's goodness remains unchanged by its rejection. [Homily 5, on 2 Corinthians 2:15].
2:16
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
to the one an aroma from death to death, but to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
Textual & reception notes
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Different responses produce different outcomes; ministerial sufficiency belongs to God. [Homily 5, on 2 Corinthians 2:16].
2:17
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For we are not like the many who peddle the word of God; but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ before God.
Textual & reception notes
Peddle renders kapēleuō, trading in the message for gain, with possible adulteration overtones; the related distortion at 4:2 is translated separately.
Reception (Tier A; direct commentary) — St John Chrysostom: Paul refuses to adulterate God's message for commercial advantage. [Homily 5, on 2 Corinthians 2:17].