Christian Standard Bible
2 Corinthians 12:21
21I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.
2 Corinthians 12:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
- New International Version (NIV)I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
- New King James Version (NKJV)lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:21
19Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up. 20For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:21 word by word
μὴ πάλιν ἐλθόντος μου ταπεινώσῃ με ὁ θεός μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πενθήσω πολλοὺς τῶν προημαρτηκότων καὶ μὴ μετανοησάντων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ ᾗ ἔπραξαν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- lestμήmē · notG3361
- when I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- againπάλινpalin · againG3825
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- will humbleταπεινόωtapeinoō · to humbleG5013
- amongπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- youσύsu · youG4771
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- I shall bewailπενθέωpentheō · to mournG3996
- manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- have sinned alreadyπροαμαρτάνωproamartanō · to sin beforehandG4258
- haveμετανοέωmetanoeō · to repentG3340
- ofἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the uncleannessἀκαθαρσίαakatharsia · impurityG167
- fornicationπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
- lasciviousnessἀσέλγειαaselgeia · debaucheryG766
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- they have committedπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:21
- 2 Corinthians 12:7especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.
- 2 Corinthians 9:3But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said.
- 2 Corinthians 2:1In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.
- Exodus 32:31So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves.
- Deuteronomy 9:15“So I went back down the mountain, while it was blazing with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands.
- 1 Samuel 15:35Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.
- Ezra 9:3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
- Ezra 10:1While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
- Psalms 119:136My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.
- Jeremiah 9:1If my head were a flowing spring, my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night over the slain of my dear people.
- Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not listen, my innermost being will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, for the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
- Luke 9:41Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
- Romans 9:2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
- Philippians 3:18For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient,
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Lest, when I come again - And even after all that has been done for you, I fear that when I do come - when I pay you my second visit, my God will humble me - will permit me to be affected with deep sorrow through what I may see among you; as I have been by the buffetings of the apostle of Satan, who has perverted you. Humiliation is repeatedly used for affliction, and here ͅ has certainly that meaning. Have sinned already - · Who have sinned before; who…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me - Lest I should be compelled to inflict punishment on those whom I suppose to have been converted under my ministry. I had rejoiced in them as true converts: I had counted them as among the fruit of my ministry. Now to be compelled to inflict punishment on them as having no religion would mortify me and humble me. The infliction of punishment on members of the church is a sort of punishment to him who…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 We owe it to good men, to stand up in the defence of their reputation; and we are under special obligations to those from whom we have received benefit, especially spiritual benefit, to own them as instruments in God's hand of good to us. Here is an account of the apostle's behaviour and kind intentions; in which see the character of a faithful minister of the gospel. This was his great aim and design, to do good. Here are noticed several…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Paul fears that God will humble him in their presence, similar to the previous visit (2:1), when the Corinthians had rejected and humiliated him. The listed vices were among the Corinthians’ old sins (see 6:14–7:1; 1 Corinthians Book Introduction, "Setting").Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. my God--his God, however trying the humiliation that was in store for him. will humble me--The indicative implies that the supposition will actually be so. The faithful pastor is "humbled" at, and "bewails" the falls of his people, as though they were his own. sinned already--before my last coming [Bengel], that is, before the second visit which he paid, and in which he had much at Corinth to rebuke. have not repented--shall not have repented…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12
- 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
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- 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
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