The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 2:10 Explained

2 Corinthians 2:10

KJV: To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

YLT: And to whom ye forgive anything -- I also; for I also, if I have forgiven anything, to whom I have forgiven it, because of you -- in the person of Christ -- I forgive it,

Darby: But to whom ye forgive anything, I also; for I also, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sakes in the person of Christ;

ASV: But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the presence of Christ;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

<1161> To whom  ye forgive  any thing,  I  [forgive] also:  for  if I  forgave  any thing,  to whom  I forgave  [it], for your sakes  [forgave I it] in  the person  of Christ; 

What does 2 Corinthians 2:10 Mean?

Context Summary

2Co 2:1-11 - Tender-Hearted And Forgiving
In these opening words Paul evidently refers to the sin mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. His judgment had been strong and stringent, the Corinthian church had acted upon it, and the offender had suffered severely in consequence. But the result had been more than satisfactory. He had repented with great brokenness of spirit. Indeed, it seemed as if he would be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, 2 Corinthians 2:7.
The Apostle desires the Corinthians to understand that he also had shed many tears over the case, 2 Corinthians 2:4. His was a very affectionate and tender disposition, which shrank from inflicting pain, and yet was resolute at all costs to maintain truth. We get a sidelight here as to the heart of God. May we not believe that whenever He chastens us, it is with profound pity? Whom He loves He chastens; and whom He receives, He scourges. But when there is full and frank repentance, there should be forgiveness. The penitent offender was to be restored to church fellowship and received with brotherly welcome. The Savior Himself speaks through forgiveness. It is His love that moves, His voice that declares; while an unforgiving spirit sets an open door to the entrance of Satan. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2Co 2

1  Having shown the reason why he came not to them,
6  he requires them to forgive and to comfort that excommunicated person,
10  even as he himself upon true repentance had forgiven him;
12  declaring why he departed from Troas to Macedonia,
14  and the happy success which God gave to his preaching in all places

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 2:10

In the person of Christ [εν προσωπωι Χριστου]
More exactly, “in the presence of Christ,” before Christ, in the face of Christ. Cf. ενωπιον του τεου — enōpion tou theou (2 Corinthians 4:2) in the eye of God, ενωπιον Κυριου — enōpion Kuriou (2 Corinthians 8:21). [source]
In the person [ἐν προσώπῳ]
Better, as Rev., in margin, presence; or face, as if Christ were looking on. See on 2 Corinthians 1:11. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 2:10

2 Corinthians 1:11 By means of many [εκ πολλων προσωπων]
Προσωπον — Prosōpon means face The word is common in all Greek. The papyri use it for face, appearance, person. It occurs twelve times in II Corinthians. It certainly means face in eight of them (2 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 10:1, 2 Corinthians 10:7; 2 Corinthians 11:20). In 2 Corinthians 5:12 it means outward appearance. It may mean face or person here, 2 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 4:6. It is more pictorial to take it here as face “that out of many upturned faces” thanks may be given It is indeed a difficult sentence to understand. [source]
2 Corinthians 4:6 Who shined [ος ελαμπσεν]
Like a lamp in the heart (cf. Matthew 5:15). Miners carry a lamp on the forehead, Christians carry one in their hearts lit by the Spirit of God. To give the light (προς πωτισμον — pros phōtismon). For the illumination. In the face of Jesus Christ The Christian who looks on the face of Jesus Christ as Moses looked upon the glory of God will be able to give the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God. See note on 2 Corinthians 2:10 for προσωπον — prosōpon f0). [source]
2 Corinthians 4:6 In the face of Jesus Christ [εν προσωπωι Ιησου Χριστου]
The Christian who looks on the face of Jesus Christ as Moses looked upon the glory of God will be able to give the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God. See note on 2 Corinthians 2:10 for προσωπον — prosōpon f0). [source]
Colossians 2:13 Having forgiven us [χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν]
Freely ( χάρις gracefree gift ), as Luke 7:42; 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:10; Colossians 3:13. Note the change of pronoun from you to us, believers generally, embracing himself. This change from the second to the first person, or, vice versa, is common in Paul's writings. See Colossians 1:10-13; Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4; Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:3, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 4:31, Ephesians 4:32. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 2:10 mean?

To whomever now anything you forgive I also and for I to whom I have forgiven if [it is] for the sake of you in [the] person of Christ
δέ τι χαρίζεσθε κἀγώ καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ κεχάρισμαι εἴ δι’ ὑμᾶς ἐν προσώπῳ Χριστοῦ

  To  whomever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
δέ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τι  anything 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
χαρίζεσθε  you  forgive 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: χαρίζομαι  
Sense: to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favour to, gratify.
κἀγώ  I  also 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 1st Person Singular
Root: κἀγώ  
Sense: and I.
  to  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
κεχάρισμαι  I  have  forgiven 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: χαρίζομαι  
Sense: to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favour to, gratify.
δι’  [it  is]  for  the  sake  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
προσώπῳ  [the]  person 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πρόσωπον  
Sense: the face.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.

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