2 Corinthians 1:24

Not that we control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

BSB

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

ASV

Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.

Original Greek

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οὐχ ouch Not G3756 ὅτι hoti for G3754 κυριεύομεν kurieuomen we lord it over G2961 ὑμῶν humōn your G4771 τῆς tēs (the) G3588 πίστεως pisteōs faith G4102 ἀλλὰ alla but G235 συνεργοί sunergoi fellow workers G4904 ἐσμεν esmen are G1510 τῆς tēs of the G3588 χαρᾶς charas joy G5479 ὑμῶν humōn with you G4771 τῇ tēa in the G3588 γὰρ gar for G1063 πίστει pistei faith G4102 ἑστήκατε.¶ hestēkate you have stood firm G2476

The early church

"Not for that we have lordship over your faith." That is, I did not therefore say, "To spare you I came not," as lording it over you. Again, he said not you, but "your faith," which was at once gentler and truer. For him that hath no mind to believe, who hath power to compel? "But are helpers of your joy." For since, saith he, your joy is ours, I came not, that I might not plunge you into sorrow and increase my own despondency; but I stayed away that ye being reformed by the threat might be made glad. For we do every thing in order to your joy, and give diligence in this behalf, because we are ourselves partakers of it. "For by faith ye stand." Behold him again speaking repressedly. For he was afraid to rebuke them again; since he had handled them severely in the former Epistle, and they had made some reformation. And if, now that they were reformed, they again received the same reproof, this was likely to throw them back. Whence this Epistle is much gentler than the former.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 15–24

The apostle clears himself from the charge of levity and inconstancy, in not coming to Corinth. Good men should be careful to keep the reputation of sincerity and constancy; they should not resolve, but on careful thought; and they will not change unless for weighty reasons. Nothing can render God's promises more certain: his giving them through Christ, assures us they are his promises; as the wonders God wrought in the life, resurrection, and ascension of his Son, confirm faith. The Holy Spirit makes Christians firm in the faith of the gospel: the quickening of the Spirit is an earnest of everlasting life; and the comforts of the Spirit are an earnest of everlasting joy. The apostle desired to spare the blame he feared would be unavoidable, if he had gone to Corinth before he learned what effect his former letter produced. Our strength and ability are owing to faith; and our comfort and joy must flow from faith. The holy tempers and gracious fruits which attend faith, secure from delusion in so important a matter.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 1 →

Cross-references

15

Topics

Minister, ChristianFaithZeal, ReligiousLoveJoy

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.