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:
• 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—
• New Living Translation (NLT)I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.

Context of 2 Corinthians 13:2

1This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 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, 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with 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 1:23I 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.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
• 1 Corinthians 5:5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 13:10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I 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.

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