2 Corinthians 7 · Verse 12

2 Corinthians 7:12

Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
2 Corinthians 7:12, King James Version

2 Corinthians 7:12 in other translations

BSBSo even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.
WEBSo although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.
ASVSo although I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.
YLTIf, then, I also wrote to you--not for his cause who did wrong, nor for his cause who did suffer wrong, but for our diligence in your behalf being manifested unto you before God--
DARBYSo then, if also I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of him that injured, nor for the sake of him that was injured, but for the sake of our diligent zeal for you being manifested to you before God.
BBESo though I sent you a letter, it was not only because of the man who did the wrong, or because of him to whom the wrong was done, but so that your true care for us might be made clear in the eyes of God.
WebsterWherefore, though I wrote to you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

What does 2 Corinthians 7:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. though I wrote unto you--"making you sorry with my letter" (2Co 7:8). his cause that suffered wrong--the father of the incestuous person who had his father's wife (1Co 5:1). The father, thus it seems, was alive. that our care for you, &c.--Some of the oldest manuscripts read thus, "That YOUR care for us might be made manifest unto you," &c. But the words, "unto you," thus, would be rather obscure; still the obscurity of the genuine reading may have been the very reason for the change being made by correctors into the reading of English Version. Alford explains the reading: "He wrote in order to bring out their zeal on his behalf (that is, to obey his command), and make it manifest to themselves in God's sight, that is, to bring out among them their zeal to regard and obey him." But some of the oldest manuscripts and versions (including the Vulgate and old Italian) support English Version. And the words, "to you," suit it better than the other reading. 2Co 2:4, "I wrote ... that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you," plainly accords with it, and disproves Alford's assertion that English Version is inconsistent with the fact as to the purpose of his letter. His writing, he says, was not so much for the sake of the individual offender, or the individual offended, but from his "earnest care" or concern for the welfare of the Church.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, etc. In this verse Paul states the main reason why he had written to them on the subject. It was not principally on account of the man who had done the wrong, or of him who had been injured; but it was from tender anxiety for the whole church, and in order to show the deep interest which he had in their welfare.

Not for his cause that had done the wrong. Not mainly or principally on account of the incestuous person, 1Cor 5:1. It was not primarily with reference to him as an individual that I wrote, but from a regard to the whole church.

Nor for his cause that suffered wrong. Not merely that the wrong which he had suffered might be rectified, and that his rights might be restored, valuable and desirable as was that object. The offence was, that a man had taken his father's wife as his own, (1Cor 5:1;) and the person injured, therefore, was his father. It is evident from this passage, I think, that the father was living at the time when Paul wrote this epistle.

But that our care, etc. I wrote mainly that I might show the deep interest which I had in the church at large, and my anxiety that it might not suffer by the misconduct of any of its members. It is from a regard to the welfare of the whole church that discipline should be administered, and not simply with reference to an individual who has done wrong, or an individual who is injured. In church discipline, such private interests are absorbed in the general interest of the church at large.

(e) "our care for you" 2Cor 2:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Not for his cause that had done the wrong - viz. the incestuous person. Nor for his cause that suffered wrong - Some think the apostle means himself; others, that he means the Church at Corinth, the singular being put for the plural; others, the family of the incestuous person; and others, the father of the incestuous person. If this latter opinion be adopted, it would seem to intimate that the father of this person was yet alive, which would make the transgression more flagrant; but these words might be spoken in reference to the father, if dead, whose cause should be vindicated; as his injured honor might be considered, like Abel's blood, to be crying from the earth. But that our care for you - might appear - It was not to get the delinquent punished, nor merely to do justice to those who had suffered in this business, that the apostle wrote his epistle to them, but that they might have the fullest proof of his fatherly affection for them, and his concern for the honor of God; and that they might thereby see how unnatural their opposition to him was, and what cause they had to prefer him, who was ready to give up his life in their service, to that false apostle or teacher who was corrupting their minds, leading them from the simplicity of the truth, and making a gain of them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:12-16
The apostle was not disappointed concerning them, which he signified to Titus; and he could with joy declare the confidence he had in them for the time to come. Here see the duties of a pastor and of his flock; the latter must lighten the troubles of the pastoral office, by respect and obedience; the former make a due return by his care of them, and cherish the flock by testimonies of satisfaction, joy, and tenderness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Corinthians 7:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἄραaraSoG686
εἰeiifG1487
καὶkaievenG2532
ἔγραψαegrapsaI wroteG1125
ὑμῖν,huminto you,G4771
οὐχouch[it was] notG3756
ἕνεκενhenekenfor the sake ofG1752
τοῦtouthe [one]G3588
ἀδικήσαντοςadikēsantoshaving done wrongG91
οὐδὲoudenorG3761
ἕνεκενhenekenfor the sake ofG1752
τοῦtouthe [one]G3588
ἀδικηθέντος,adikēthentoshaving suffered wrong,G91
ἀλλ᾽all᾽but ratherG235
ἕνεκενhenekenfor the sake ofG1752
τοῦtou<the>G3588
φανερωθῆναιphanerōthēnaibeing revealedG5319
τὴνtēntheG3588
σπουδὴνspoudēnearnestnessG4710
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
τὴνtēnwhich [is]G3588
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
ἡμῶνhēmōnusG3165
πρὸςprostoG4314
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.theouGod.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 7:12

  • 2 Corinthians 2:9

    For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

  • 1 Timothy 3:5

    (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

  • 2 Corinthians 7:8

    For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:17

    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.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:3-4

    And 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. For 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.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:28

    Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:11

    Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

    It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I did.
2:9; 1Co 5:1
that our.
2:4,17; 11:11,28; 1Ti 3:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 7:11

    For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:12

    Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:13

    Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 7

2 Corinthians 7:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que, aunque os escribí, no fué por causa del que hizo la injuria, ni por causa del que la padeció, mas para que os fuese manifiesta nuestra solicitud que tenemos por vosotros delante de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi, si même je vous ai écrit, ce n’a point été à cause de celui qui a fait le tort ni à cause de celui à qui on a fait tort, mais afin que le zèle que nous avons pour vous, vous soit manifesté devant Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So denn, wenn ich euch auch geschrieben habe, so geschah es nicht um des Beleidigers, noch um des Beleidigten willen, sondern um deswillen, damit unser Fleiß für euch bei euch offenbar werde vor Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Igitur, etsi scripsi vobis, non propter eum qui fecit injuriam, nec propter eum qui passus est: sed ad manifestandam sollicitudinem nostram, quam habemus pro vobis