2 Corinthians 2:7so 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.
The setting
Corinth, Greece, ~55 AD. Paul writes from Macedonia, addressing a painful church discipline case that has gone too far. The offender is now broken and repentant.
The emotion here: pastoral concern mixed with urgency about mercy
The original word
katapothē (καταποθῇ) — to be completely swallowed up, devoured like prey
Why it matters
Greek culture valued honor above mercy, making Paul's call for restoration revolutionary
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Corinthians 2:7
Paul uses hunting imagery — the person is being 'devoured' by shame
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about forgiving any sin, but Paul is specifically addressing what happens AFTER proper church discipline has achieved repentance.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Corinthians 2:7
Bible Genome reading
2 Corinthians 2:7 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Corinthians 2:7 comes from the book of 2 Corinthians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is tender. It belongs to the teaching genre of biblical literature. Key themes include forgiveness, restoration. Notable phrases: forgive him and comfort him. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does 2 Corinthians 2:7 mean to you, today?
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