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 I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”). 2I 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. 3I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful 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 12:14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.
• Numbers 35:30“All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 17:6But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
• Deuteronomy 19:15“You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• 1 Kings 21:10And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
• Matthew 18:16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
• Matthew 26:60But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward
• John 8:17Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.
• Hebrews 10:28For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

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