2 Corinthians 13:2

2 Corinthians 13:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
• New International Version (NIV)I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others,
• English Standard Version (ESV)I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—

Context of 2 Corinthians 13:2

1This is the third time that I am visiting you. Every fact shall be sustained and confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. I 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, 3since you seek [forensic] proof that Christ is speaking in and through me. He is not weak or ineffective in dealing with you, but powerful within you. 4For even though He was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet we are alive and well [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

2 Corinthians 13:2 word by word

προείρηκα καὶ προλέγω, ὡς παρὼν τὸ δεύτερον καὶ ἀπὼν νῦν τοῖς προημαρτηκόσιν καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πᾶσιν, ὅτι ἐὰν ἔλθω εἰς τὸ πάλιν οὐ φείσομαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I told you beforeπρολέγωprolegō · to foretellG4302
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• as ifὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• I were presentπάρειμιpareimi · be presentG3918
• the second timeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the second timeδεύτεροςdeuteros · secondlyG1208
• being absentἄπειμιapeimi · be awayG548
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• I writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• which heretofore have sinnedπροαμαρτάνωproamartanō · to sin beforehandG4258
• to allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• otherλοιπόςloipoi · remainingG3062
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• I willφείδομαιpheidomai · to spareG5339
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 13:2

• 2 Corinthians 1:23But 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—
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent!
• 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;
• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these arrogant people, but [evaluate] their [spiritual] power [whether they live up to their own claims].
• 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.
• 2 Corinthians 13:10For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and decadence which they formerly practiced.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 13:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2I told you before, etc. - As Calmet maintains that Paul had already been twice at Corinth, it is well to hear his reasons: "St. Paul came to Corinth the latter end of the year of our Lord 52, and remained there eighteen months, Acts 18:1, etc. He came there a second time in the year 55, but stayed only a short time, as he had to return speedily to Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 16:7; hence it is that St. Luke makes no mention of this second journey in the Acts…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2I told you before - That I would not spare offenders; that I would certainly punish them. He had intimated this before in the First Epistle 1 Corinthians 4:21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. And foretell you - Now apprise you of my fixed determination to punish every offender as he deserves. As if I were present, the second time - The mention of the second time here proves that Paul had been with them but once before. He had formed the resolution to go to them…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Paul announced his plan to return to Corinth for the third time (see study note on 12:14–15). He found support for his plan in the Scriptures. The reason for this quote is unclear. However, considering the context of Deuteronomy 19:15, Paul might have wanted to warn them. He intended to judge every wrongdoing (listed in 2 Corinthians 12:20–21) upon his arrival. The two or three witnesses against the Corinthian wrongdoers were Paul's letters or visits and…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Rather, "I have already said (at my second visit), and tell you (now) beforehand, AS (I did) WHEN I WAS PRESENT THE SECOND TIME, SO also NOW in my absence (the oldest manuscripts omit the 'I write,' which here wrongly follows in English Version Greek text) to them which heretofore have sinned (namely, before my second visit, 2Co 12:21), and to all others (who have sinned since my second visit, or are in danger of sinning)." The English Version, "as if…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 13:2

• Church
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Examine
• Prove
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Foretell; Foretold
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 13

• 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