2 Corinthians 13:1

2 Corinthians 13:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
• New International Version (NIV)This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”

Context of 2 Corinthians 13:1

This is the third time that I’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses. 2I already warned you when I was with you the second time, and even though I’m not there now, I’m warning you again. When I visit you again, I won’t spare you. That goes for all those who formerly led sinful lives as well as for all the others. 3Since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me, that’s what you’ll get. Christ isn’t weak in dealing with you. Instead, he makes his power felt among you.

2 Corinthians 13:1 word by word

Τρίτον τοῦτο ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς. ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων καὶ τριῶν σταθήσεται πᾶν ῥῆμα.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• the thirdτρίτοςtritos · thirdG5154
• I am comingἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• Inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
• of twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• orκαίkai · andG2532
• threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
• witnessesμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144
• shallἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• wordῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 13:1

• 2 Corinthians 12:14I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I won’t bother you for help. I don’t want your possessions. Instead, I want you. Children shouldn’t have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children.
• Numbers 35:30“Whoever kills another person will be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of more than one witness. No one can be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 17:6The person can only be sentenced to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses, but no one should ever be sentenced to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 19:15One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• 1 Kings 21:10Have two good-for-nothing men sit opposite him and accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then stone him to death outside the city.”
• Matthew 18:16But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses.
• Matthew 26:60But they did not find any, although many came forward with false testimony. At last two men came forward.
• John 8:17Your own teachings say that the testimony of two people is true.
• Hebrews 10:28If two or three witnesses accused someone of rejecting Moses’ Teachings, that person was shown no mercy as he was executed.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 13:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1This is the third time I am coming to you - These words are nearly the same with those 2 Corinthians 12:14; and probably refer to the purpose which he had twice before formed of seeing them. But the latter clause seems to attach a different meaning to the passage; at least so it has been understood by some learned men. Schoettgen thus interprets the whole: the first coming of the apostle to Corinth was when he personally visited them, and there founded…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This is the third time … - see the note on 2 Corinthians 12:14. For an interesting view of this passage, see Paley‘s Horae Paulinae on this Epistle, No. 11: It is evident that Paul had been to Corinth but once before this, but he had resolved to go before a second time, but had been disappointed. In the mouth of two or three witnesses … - This was what the Law of Moses required; Deuteronomy 20:16; see the note on John 8:17; compare Matthew 18:16. But in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle threatens obstinate offenders. (1-6) He prays for their reformation. (7-10) And ends the epistle with a salutation and blessing. (11-14) Verses 1-6 Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine…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. 1-142Co 13:1-14. He Threatens a Severe Proof of His Apostolic Authority, but Prefers They Would Spare Him the Necessity for It. 1. This is the third time I am coming to you--not merely preparing to come to you. This proves an intermediate visit between the two recorded in Ac 18:1; 20:2. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established--Quoted from De 19:15, Septuagint. "I will judge not without examination, nor will I abstain from…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 13:1

• Church
• Corinth
• Quotations and Allusions
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Corinth
• Examine
• Prove
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Judge
• Paul, the Apostle
• Witness

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