2 Corinthians 7:4
What does 2 Corinthians 7:4 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 7:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 7:4 means
Paul admits he has spoken boldly to the Corinthians, yet he also boasts in them, finding reasons to brag about their response and potential. Even amid ongoing hardships, he is filled with comfort and joy. This verse reveals a paradox at the heart of Christian ministry: affliction does not cancel joy when God is at work in people’s hearts. Paul’s confidence and delight spring from signs of grace in the Corinthians. Their progress encourages him so much that it overflows, even while trouble presses in. Gospel relationships can carry both candor and celebration—bold warnings alongside warm commendations—because love hopes for the best and rejoices when repentance and renewal appear.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My words to you are without fear, I am full of pride on account of you: I have great comfort and joy in all our troubles.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862great <FI>is<Fi> my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Great is my confidence for you: great is my glorying for you. I am filled with comfort: I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Great [is] my boldness towards you, great my exulting in respect of you; I am filled with encouragement; I overabound in joy under all our affliction.
Context
Having affirmed his love, Paul now discloses the emotional state from which he writes—boldness mixed with abundant comfort and joy. This primes the reader for the narrative that follows: his severe distress in Macedonia (verse 5) and God’s timely consolation through Titus (verses 6–7). The flow moves from general affirmation to specific circumstances, showing how God used the Corinthians’ response to transform Paul’s anxieties into overflowing joy and to deepen the bond between apostle and church.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 11:21
I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- 2 Corinthians 3:12
Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
- 2 Corinthians 1:14
as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24
Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
- Ephesians 6:19
and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
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