A chiasm is a literary structure where vocabulary of the first section of a passage is repeated in reverse order in the second. The center of the chiasm is typically the climax of the passage. In Paul’s “having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all” (2 Cor 2:3). A But (Greek: gar) I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow (Greek: lupē) again. For (Greek: gar) if (Greek: ei) I cause you sorrow (Greek: lupeō), who (Greek: tis) then makes me glad but (Greek: ei mē) the one whom I (Greek: ex emou) made sorrowful (Greek:lupeō)? This is the very thing I wrote you, so that (Greek: hina) when I came, I would not have sorrow (Greek: lupē) from (Greek: apo) those who ought to make me rejoice; (2:1-3a) B having confidence in you all that my joy (2:3b) B’ would be the joy of you all. (2:3c) A’ For (Greek: gar) out of (Greek: ek) much affliction and anguish of heart I wroteto you with many tears; not so that (Greek: hina) you would be made sorrowful (Greek: lupeō), but that (Greek: hina) you might know the love which I have especially for you. But if (Greek: ei) any (Greek: tis) has caused sorrow (Greek: lupeō), he has caused sorrow (Greek: lupeō) not to me, but in (Greek: apo) some degree– in order (Greek: hina) not to say too much– to all of you. (2:4-5)
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