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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.

Context of 2 Corinthians 1:23

21And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

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 1:18As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.
• 2 Corinthians 11:11And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
• Romans 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
• Romans 9:1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—
• Galatians 1:20(In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)
• Philippians 1:8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
• 2 Corinthians 2:1For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.
• 2 Corinthians 10:2I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I 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—
• 1 Corinthians 4:21What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
• 1 Corinthians 5:5you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 1:20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn 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