Affliction, Anguish and Tears 2 Corinthians 2:4

Paul the apostle shared with the church members in Corinth how he wrote in advance so when he came to them he would not, “have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice;”, and he added, “having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all”. In chapter two and verse four of Second Corinthians, Paul asked the church members, “have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice”, where we read:

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

The verse begins, “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears;” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “out of much” or “away from great and large” “affliction” which means “pressing together, oppression, tribulation, distress and straights”, “and anguish” or “a holding together and narrowing” “of heart” or “the soul or mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “I wrote” which refers to “Paul expressed and delineated letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material” “unto you” or “to the church members” “with many tears” which means “with much and large tears”. Paul endured “tribulations, distresses and narrowing of the soul” as wept when he “wrote” to the church members.

The verse goes on to say, “not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.” Paul added the words, “not that you should be grieved” or “not so the church members would be sad, sorrowful, offended, uneasy or caused a scruple”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “that you might know” which means “so the church members may perceive, feel, understand and become acquainted with” “the love” which refers to “the affection, good will, benevolence and unmerited brotherly love” “which I have more abundantly” or “that Paul in a greater, more earnest and exceedingly above” “unto you” which means “toward the church members”. Paul did not desire to make the church members “sorrowful” with his words, but rather to know how much he truly “loved” them.

When we consider these words of Paul, we realize the extent to which he suffered so the church members in Corinth might manage themselves as a church. He suffered “affliction” and “anguish of heart” that they might know God, and with many “tears” he wrote to them. His desire was not to make them “sorrowful” for their ways, but that they might know how much he dearly “loved” them. Jesus Christ “loves” people more than anyone, and when we align with Him and His ways, we shall “love” people enough, if need be, to “suffer” on their behalf. “Affliction, anguish and tears” may portioned to us as we care for others, but they shall know our “abundant love” as we share God's ways with them.

Next time Paul writes concerning, “if any have caused grief”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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