2 Corinthians 1:23

2 Corinthians 1:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
• New International Version (NIV)I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.

Context of 2 Corinthians 1:23

21Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit]; 22it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life]. But I call on God as my soul’s witness, that it was to spare you [pain and discouragement] that I did not come again to Corinth— 24not that we rule [like dictators] over your faith, but rather we work with you for [the increase of] your joy; for in your faith you stand firm [in your strong conviction that Jesus of Nazareth—the Messiah—is the Son of God, through whom we obtain eternal salvation].

2 Corinthians 1:23 word by word

Ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Moreoverδέde · thenG1161
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• callἐπικαλέωepikaleomai · to call (on)/nameG1941
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• for a recordμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• soulψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• to spareφείδομαιpheidomai · to spareG5339
• youσύsu · youG4771
• I cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• not as yetοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• CorinthΚόρινθοςKorinthos · CorinthG2882

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 1:23

• 2 Corinthians 1:18But [as surely as] God is faithful and means what He says, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No” [at the same time].
• 2 Corinthians 11:11Why? Because I do not love you [or wish you well, or have regard for your welfare]? God knows [that I do]!
• Romans 1:9For God, whom I serve with my spirit by preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how continuously I mention you
• Romans 9:1I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit,
• Galatians 1:20(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.)
• Philippians 1:8For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me].
• 1 Thessalonians 2:5For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness—
• 2 Corinthians 2:1But I made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful visit.
• 2 Corinthians 10:2I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit].
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not to be as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder;
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I have already warned those who have sinned in the past and all the rest as well, and I warn them now even though I am absent [from you] as I did when I was with you the second time, that if I come back I will not spare anyone,
• 1 Corinthians 4:21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline and correction], or with love and a gentle spirit?
• 1 Corinthians 5:5you are to hand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
• 1 Timothy 1:20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be disciplined and taught not to blaspheme.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23I call God for a record upon my soul - The apostle here resumes the subject which he left 2 Corinthians 1:16, and in the most solemn manner calls God to witness, and consequently to punish, if he asserted any thing false, that it was through tenderness to them that he did not visit Corinth at the time proposed. As there were so many scandals among them, the apostle had reason to believe that he should be obliged to use the severe and authoritative part of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul - It is well remarked by Rosenmuller, that the second chapter should have commenced here, since there is here a transition in the subject more distinct than where the second chapter is actually made to begin. Here Tyndale commences the second chapter. This verse, with the subsequent statements, is designed to show them the true reason why he had changed his purpose, and had not visited them according to his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-24Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24God as my witness: This mild oath shows he is telling the truth (see 1 Samuel 12:5; 20:12; Job 16:19; compare Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 14:44; 2 Samuel 3:35; 1 Kings 2:23; Jeremiah 42:5). Paul changed his travel plans to avoid giving them a severe rebuke (2 Corinthians 1:23) and to prevent another painful visit (2:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Moreover I--Greek, "But I (for my part)," in contrast to God who hath assured us of His promises being hereafter fulfilled certainly (2Co 1:20-22). call God--the all-knowing One, who avenges wilful unfaithfulness to promises. for a record upon my soul--As a witness as to the secret purposes of my soul, and a witness against it, if I lie (Mal 3:5). to spare you--in order not to come in a rebuking spirit, as I should have had to come to you, if I had…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 1:23

• Love
• Oath

In the dictionaries

• Corinth
• God
• Corinth, Corinthians
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Call
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Despair
• Fleshly
• Testimony
• Wisdom

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings