The Varieties of Pain: Re-examining the Setting and Purpose of 2 Corinthians with Paul’s λυπ- Words

Abstract

Most interpreters assume that the pain (λύπη) created by Paul’s previous visit and letter (2 Cor. 2.1-7) has ceased because it appears indistinguishable from the fleeting ‘godly grief’ (7.5-16). This enables the view that the material constituting 2 Corinthians is largely offensive and directed at a hostile congregation. But a closer study of λυπ- words demonstrates that their semantic range incorporates Corinthian despair, heartbreak, and bitterness. These emotions are distinct from the godly grief and, upon surveying select passages, it is evident that the Corinthians can be understood to have ongoing pains. This significantly alters the situation – the community’s rebellion is fueled by troubling emotive experiences – and further reveals Paul’s overlooked agenda of communal transformation.