God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 13:2
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.
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’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses. I 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. 4He was weak when he was crucified, but by God’s power he lives. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you with his help.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 132 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 1:23I appeal to God as a witness on my behalf, that I stayed away from Corinth because I wanted to spare you.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, make my appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m the one who is humble when I’m with you but forceful toward you when I’m not with you.
- 2 Corinthians 12:20I’m afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I’m afraid that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.
- 1 Corinthians 4:19If it’s the Lord’s will, I’ll visit you soon. Then I’ll know what these arrogant people are saying and what power they have.
- 1 Corinthians 5:5hand such a person over to Satan to destroy his corrupt nature so that his spiritual nature may be saved on the day of the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 13:10That’s why I’m writing this letter while I’m not with you. When I am with you I don’t want to be harsh by using the authority that the Lord gave me. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.
- 2 Corinthians 12:21I’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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