For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
Parallel Translations
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For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
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For I feare lest it come to passe that when I come I shall not fynde you soche as I wolde: and I shalbe foude vnto you soche as ye wolde not: I feare lest ther be founde amonge you debate envyinge wrath stryfe backbytynges whisperynges swellynges and discorde.
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For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would: and that I shalbe found vnto you such as ye woulde not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backebitings, whisperings, swellings and discord.
Cross-references (27)
Passages linked to 2 Corinthians 12:20 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
- 1 Peter 2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
- Romans 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,
- 1 Corinthians 1:11 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
- Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
- Galatians 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.
- Jude 1:16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
- James 4:1-5 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
- Psalms 41:7 All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.
- 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?
- 1 Corinthians 4:6-8 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:18-21 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
- 1 Corinthians 5:3-5 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers.
- 1 Corinthians 11:16-19 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies. But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
- 2 Corinthians 12:21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
- 2 Corinthians 13:9-10 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect. For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
- Galatians 5:26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
- Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
- James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
- 2 Peter 2:18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
- 1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
- 1 Corinthians 14:36-37 What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 1:23–2:4 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you. We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith. But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.
- 2 Corinthians 10:2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
- 2 Corinthians 10:8-9 For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed, that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 20. For I fear He declares, in what way…
20. For I fear He declares, in what way it tends to their edification, that his integrity should be vindicated, for, on the ground that he had come into contempt, many grew wanton, as it were, with loosened reins. Now respect for him would have been a means of leading them to repentance, for they would have listened to his admonitions.
I fear, says he. This fear proceeded from love, for, unless he had been concerned as to their welfare, he would very readily have overlooked all this, from which he sought to obtain no personal advantage. For otherwise we are afraid to give occasion of offense, when we foresee that it will be hurtful to ourselves.
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And I shall be found by you. Here is a second ground of fear — lest he should be constrained to act with greater severity. Now it is a token not merely of love, but even of indulgence, to shun severity, and have recourse to milder measures. “As to my striving at present to maintain my authority, and endeavoring to bring you back to obedience, I do this, lest I should find occasion to punish your obstinacy more severely, if I come, and find among you nothing of amendment.” He teaches, accordingly, by his example, that mild remedies must always be resorted to by Pastors, for the correction of faults, before they have recourse to extreme severity; and, at the same time, that we must, by admonitions and reproofs, prevent the necessity of having recourse to the utmost rigor.
Lest, by any means, there be contentions. He enumerates the vices, which chiefly prevailed among the Corinthians; almost all of which proceeded from the same source. For had not every one been devoted to self, they would never have contended with each other — they would never have envied one another — there would have been no slandering among them. Thus the sum and substance of the first catalogue is want of love, because (φιλαυτία) self-love, and ambition prevailed.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Having confirmed his authority unto them, he rebuketh them…
Having confirmed his authority unto them, he rebuketh them sharply, and threateneth them also like an Apostle, showing that he will not spare them hereafter, unless they repent, seeing that this is the third time that he hath warned them.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I…
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
Ver. 20. And that I shall be found] Crudelem medicum intemperans aeger facit. The sick man makes harsh headstrong medicine, (Mimus.) We delight not to fling daggers at men’s faces; but if men be not told their own, and that with some sharpness, they will on in sin to their utter ruin. Sharp waters clear the eyesight; and bitter potions bring on sweet health. A weak dose doth but stir bad humours and anger them, not purge them out; so it fareth with sins.
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Lest there be debates, envyings, &c.] King Edward IV, the night before his death, said to his kinsmen and friends, I remember it to my grief, that there hath been discord among you a great time, not always for great causes, but poor mistakings, {a} Some, like salamanders, live always in the fire; like trouts, they love to swim against stream; like Phocion, they think it a goodly thing to dissent from others.
Whisperings] {See Trapp on "Rom 1:29"}
Swellings] That is, taking things unkindly, so that the heart even riseth against another, and we cannot away with him, would have nothing to do with him. Now, as the swelling of the spleen is very dangerous for health; and of the sails, for the overbearing of a little vessel; so is this swelling of the heart by passion, especially if it break out at the lips by tumults, that is, by telling this body, running to that, filling the town with it. Caelum mugitibus implet.
{a} Daniel’s Hist. of England.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall…
For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would; a good man, especially a faithful minister of the gospel, will be concerned at the sins of others, and as to their spiritual welfare. A profane person either rejoiceth in the sins of others, or at least is unconcerned for them; but a good man cannot be so, as knowing the sins of others reflect dishonour upon God.
And that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not; he also cannot delight in the punishments of others, or doing any thing which may be ungrateful to them. Paul feareth lest the miscarriages of this church should enforce from him some acts of severity. He instanceth in some particular disorders in the members of this church, which he feared that he should find amongst them not amended; all the effects of pride and passion.
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Debates, or contentions, such as he had taxed them for, 1Co 1:11; 3:3.
Envyings, or heats of passion; envying of one another for their gifts, &c. The other things which he mentioneth, are all sins against that brotherly love which ought to be found amongst Christians, and tending to ruptures amongst them; and teach us how contrary these are to the duty of Christians, who are one body.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 20. I fear, lest, when I come] I…
Verse 20. I fear, lest, when I come] I think the present time is used here for the past; the apostle seems most evidently to be giving them the reason why he had not come to them according to his former purposes, and why he sent Titus and his companion. He was afraid to come at that time lest he should have found them perverted from the right way, and he be obliged to make use of his apostolical rod, and punish the offenders; but, feeling towards them the heart of a tender father, he was unwilling to use the rod; and sent the first epistle to them, and the messengers above mentioned, being reluctant to go himself till he had satisfactory evidence that their divisions were ended, and that they had repented for and put away the evils that they had committed; and that he should not be obliged to bewail them who had sinned so abominably, and had not repented for their crimes. If this verse be understood in this way, all difficulty will vanish; otherwise, what is here said does seem to contradict what is said, 2Co 7:6; 2Co 7:16, c. as well as many things both in the eighth and ninth chapters.
Debates, envyings] From these different expressions, which are too plain to need interpretation, we see what a distracted and divided state the Church at Corinth must have been in. Brotherly love and charity seem to have been driven out of this once heavenly assembly. These debates, &c., are precisely the opposites to that love which the apostle recommends and explains by its different properties in the 13th chapter of his first epistle.
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Mr. Wakefield translates the original thus: strifes, rivalries, passions, provocations, slanders, whisperings, swellings, quarrels.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain For I fear, lest, when I come - see…
For I fear, lest, when I come - see 2Co 12:14.
I shall not find you such as I would - That is, walking in the truth and order of the gospel. He had feared that the disorders would not be removed, and that they would not have corrected the errors which prevailed, and for which he had rebuked them. It was on this account that he had said so much to them. His desire was that all these disorders might be removed, and that he might be saved from the necessity of exercising severe discipline when he should come among them.
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And that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not - That is, that I shall be compelled to administer discipline, and that my visit may not be as pleasant to you as you would desire. For this reason he wished all disorder corrected, and all offences removed; that everything might be pleasant when he should come; see 1Co 4:21; compare note on 2Co 10:2.
Lest there be debates - I fear that there may be existing there debates, etc., which will require the interposition of the authority of an apostle. On the meaning of the word “debate,” see the note on Rom 1:29.
Envyings - see the note on 1Co 3:3.
Wraths - Anger or animosities between contending factions, the usual effect of forming parties.
Strifes - Between contending factions; see note on 1Co 3:3.
Backbitings - see the note on Rom 1:30.
Whisperings - see the note on Rom 1:29.
Swellings - Undue elation; being puffed up (see the notes on 2Co 8:1; 1Co 4:6, note; 1Co 4:18-19, note; 1Co 5:2, note) - such as would be produced by vain self-confidence.
Tumults - Disorder and confusion arising from this existence of parties. Paul, deeply sensible of the evil of all this, had endeavored in this correspondence to suppress it, that all things might be pleasant when he should come among them.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Inflationes, Greek: phusioseis, tumores; a metaphor for being puffed…
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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]
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Inflationes, Greek: phusioseis, tumores; a metaphor for being puffed up with pride, vain glory, &c.
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He puts them in mind to be all of them reformed, to lay aside animosities, dissensions, swellings,[3] proceeding from pride, uncleanness, fornication, &c. which indeed will be a humiliation and trouble to him, to be forced to use his power by severities; for if he find them such as he would not, they will also find him such as they would not. (Witham) --- Greek: Ton me metanoesanton. This, according to St. Augustine, is spoken here of doing great penance for heinous sins, and not merely of repentance, as some moderns would fain interpret it. (ep. 198.)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain For--Assigning cause why they needed to be thus spoken…
For--Assigning cause why they needed to be thus spoken to "for their edification"; namely, his fear that at his coming he should find them "not such as he would," and so he should be found by them "such as they would not" like, namely, severe in punishing misconduct.
debates--Greek, "strifes," "contentions."
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envyings--The oldest manuscripts read "envying," singular.
strifes--"factions," "intrigues," "factious schemes" [WAHL]. Ambitious self-seeking; from a Greek root, "to work for hire."
backbitings, whisperings--open "slanderings," and "whispering backbitings" (Gal 5:20).
swellings--arrogant elation; puffing up of yourselves. Jde 1:16, "great swelling words" (Pe2 2:18).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 20. I fear—To the close of the epistle the…
20. I fear—To the close of the epistle the self-defensive tone is now dropped, and the apostolic authority is persistently assumed.
Would… would not—A very terse and pregnant antithesis. He may find them criminals; they may find him a severe judge.
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Debates—We would translate the catalogue thus: strifes, emulation, resentments, partisanships, slanders, surmises, self-importances, frays. These are all vices of hate, as the list in the next verse is of vices of lawless love.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 20. For] The connection of thought is, ‘I do…
20. For] The connection of thought is, ‘I do this for your edification, of which there is much need, for there are many disorders among you.’
such as ye would not] “He here completely and finally throws off the apologist and puts on the Apostle.” Alford. He will rule by love rather than by fear, if possible. But if it be not possible, in the last resource he must use his Apostolic power. See notes on ch. 2Co_10:8; 2Co_10:11.
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debates] Rather, strifes. The word debate, however, derived from the French débattre, had, like the French débat, a stronger meaning than it has now. So Shakespeare, K. Hen. IV. Pt II. Act iv. Scene iv.:
“Now, lords, if Heaven doth give successful end
To this debate that bleedeth at our doors.”
envyings] See note on ch. 2Co_7:7.
strifes] Our translators have been misled by an apparent similarity between this word and that rendered debates above. It is derived from a word signifying a hired labourer, and may either mean (1) party spirit, (2) personal aims in public life, in which sense Aristotle seems to have used the word in his Politics, and hence (3) self-seeking in general, and (4) faction. The word occurs in Rom_2:8; Gal_5:20; Php_1:16; Php_2:3; Jas_3:14; Jas_3:16.
backbitings, whisperings] “Open slanders, secret revilings.” Alford. Wiclif renders detracciouns, privie spechis of discord. He is followed by the Rhemish in the rendering detractions. Tyndale, Cranmer and the Geneva render as A. V. See 1Pe_2:1 for the first word, which is there rendered evil speakings. Its literal meaning is speakings against, but no idea of secrecy is implied, as in our version, but rather the contrary. Whisperings, on the other hand, imply secrecy as a matter of course.
swellings] Rather, puffings up (Wiclif, well, bolnyngis in pride). See 1Co_4:6; 1Co_4:18-19. The word and its cognates occur only in these two Epistles and in Col_2:18.
tumults] See ch. 2Co_6:5.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (20) For I fear, lest, when I come .…
(20) For I fear, lest, when I come . . .—Something of the old anxiety which had led him to postpone his visit (2Co_1:23; 1Co_4:21) comes back upon his spirit. He and some of those Corinthians are likely to meet under very unfavourable conditions, neither of them acceptable to the other, severity meeting with open or masked resistance.
Lest there be debates . . . .—The list that follows forms a suggestive parallelism of contrast to that in 2Co_7:11, the ethical imagination of the Apostle, with its keen perception of the shades of human character, dwelling now on the manifold forms of opposition, as before it had dwelt on the manifold fruits of repentance. It will be worth while to attempt to fix the exact significance of each word somewhat more accurately than is done in the Authorised version. “Debates,” rather strifes or quarrels, had in older English a darker shade of meaning than it has now. Men spoke of a “deadly debate” between friends. Chapman’s Homer makes Achilles complain that he has cast his life into “debates past end” (Iliad, ii. 331). “Envyings” better jealousies, another Greek word being appropriated for “envy” in the strict sense. The word, like “jealousy,” is capable of a good sense, as in 2Co_7:11; 2Co_9:2; 2Co_11:2. It is well, perhaps, to notice how closely allied are the qualities which the word expresses, how soon “zeal” (2Co_7:11; Php_3:6) passes into “jealousy” in a good sense, and that again into “jealousy” in a bad sense. “Wrath.” The passion so described is treated by great ethical writers (Aristotle, Eth. Nicom. iii. 8) as almost inseparable from true courage. In the New Testament it is always used either of human wrath in its evil aspects (Luk_4:28; Act_19:28; Heb_11:27), or—but only in the Apocalypse, where it occurs in this sense frequently—of the wrath of God (Rev_14:10; Rev_14:19; Rev_15:1; Rev_15:7; Rev_16:1; Rev_16:19). There is, therefore, no need to alter the English here. The three words occur in the same connection in Gal_5:20, a nearly contemporary Epistle.
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Strifes.—The Greek word (eritheia) begins with the same three letters as that for “strife,” and till a comparatively recent period was supposed to be connected with it, and so to be identical in meaning. It has, however, a very different history, not without interest, even for the English reader. The concrete form of the noun (erîthos) meets us in Homer and elsewhere as a day-labourer, as in the description of the shield of Achilles:
“And there he wrought, a meadow thick with corn,
And labourers reaping, sickles in their hand.”
—Iliad, xviii. 550.
The next step in the growth of the word, was the verb “to serve for wages,” and this was transferred to those who in matters of state compete for honours and rewards, rather than for their country’s good. Aristotle (Pol v. 2, § 6; 3, § 9) enumerates the fact which the word expresses as one of the causes of revolutions, but carefully distinguishes it from “party spirit,” or “faction” as being more directly personal. Rivalries would, perhaps, be an adequate rendering, but what are known in political life as the cabals of cliques or coteries as contrasted with open party-fights exactly correspond to the evils which the Apostle had in his thoughts.
Backbitings, whisperings.—The English reads the idea of secret calumny into both words. In the Greek, however, the first expresses “open abuse or invective,” as in Jas_4:11; 1Pe_2:1; 1Pe_2:12. In contrast with this we have the “whispers” of the slanderers, the innuendoes and insinuations of the man who has not the courage for the more open attack. So the “whisperer” is spoken of with special scorn in Sir_21:28; Sir_28:13. The word in its primary meaning is used for the low chirp of the swallow, which was, as it were, reproduced in the confidential whispers of the retailer of scandal. (See Note on “babbler” in Act_17:18.)
Swellings, tumults.—The first word is found here only in the New Testament, but is formed regularly from the verb “to be puffed up,” which is prominent in 1Co_4:6; 1Co_4:18-19; 1Co_5:2; 1Co_8:1; 1Co_13:4. It was clearly, in St. Paul’s mind, the besetting sin of the Corinthians. As far as we know, the word may have been coined by him, but as connected with the medical idea of flatus and inflation, it may not improbably have been one of the technical terms, used figuratively, which he borrowed from St. Luke’s vocabulary. It is almost necessary to coin an English word to express it. “Inflated egotisms” is an adequate paraphrase: “puffed-upnesses” would be, perhaps, too bold a coinage. The word for “tumult” has met us before. (See Notes on 2Co_6:5; Luk_21:9; 1Co_14:33.) Disorders, confusions, what figuratively we call the “chaos,” into which a public meeting sometimes falls, are what the word expresses, rather than the more open outbreak indicated by “tumult.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Such as ye would not. (see 1Co_4:21) Debates. "Discords,"…
Such as ye would not. (see 1Co_4:21) Debates. "Discords," "quarrels." Strifes. "Party intrigues," "factious and emulous rivalries". (Rom_2:8) Backbiting . Detractions, talkings against one another. Swellings. Inflated conceit pompous egotism (1Co_4:6, 1Co_4:18, 1Co_4:19; Col_2:18) Tumults. Disorderly excitement (2Co_6:5; 1Co_14:33; comp. 1Co_13:2, 1Co_13:10)
Vers. 20, 21.
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Expression of his fears.
Why had he just spoken with so much earnestness? Why had St. Paul brought facts to their notice which he had never used in addressing his Churches? Why had he referred to that extraordinary event in his career, when he had been ushered into the secret chambers of Paradise and permitted to hear things which were not to be told? Why a revelation to be unrevealed? It was to teach the rebellious and evil disposed among the Corinthians that he was Christ"s apostle to them, and, as such, charged with maintaining the order, peace, and purity of the Churches entrusted to his oversight. Very tenderly had he appealed to the Corinthians, and now, having called God, even God in Christ, to witness the depth and sincerity of his love for them, he would entreat them not to drive him to extreme measures. To exercise stern authority gave him no pleasure. The greatest thing in an apostle was love, and he wished to restore harmony and prosperity to the Church by means of forbearance and affectionate counsel. Therefore he had pleaded so fervently; therefore he had condescended to boasting; therefore he had told them more of his infirmities than his enemies knew; therefore he had gloried in those things which these very men used to alienate his own spiritual children by putting contempt on him and his office. Fears he had, lest when he should come to Corinth, he should not find them such as he wished, and fears too that he would have to act in an apostolic way not agreeable to them, so that on their meeting together each party would be disappointed in the other. Hope he had, and so he speaks doubtingly. But the fatherly heart is overloaded with apprehensions and "lest" is thrice employed, for he would not conceal these apprehensions. What a dark list of vices and sins is spread out in the last two verses! If he should have to confront these evils, he will not find them such as he would and they will find him such as they would not. First comes the catalogue of moral evils such as originated in the factious spirit so rife in Corinth, viz. strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults. These things would require discipline. But, moreover, he feared the sensual wickedness which had such a hold on Corinth. For he might have to deal with gross offenders, men who had committed sins of "uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness," and had not repented. Such a state of things would grieve him. Disappointed and afflicted by a blight like this falling on his labours in the ministry of the gospel, he tells them, "My God will humble me among you." To avoid these distressing results, to restore peace and spiritual prosperity to a Church rent by faction and disgraced by immorality, he had written and laboured and prayed. If all failed, "my God will humble me among you. L.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 20. For I fear, etc. He has been led…
20. For I fear, etc. He has been led to speak because he feared, unless he spoke plainly, that when he came he would have to rebuke severely on account of sins which he enumerates. Debates, etc. The sins here given are those that belong to a divided state.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain For I fear, lest by any means, when I…
For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife [ 1Co_6:7 ], jealous y [ 2Co_11:19 ; 2Co_11:22 ], wraths, factions [1 Cor 1:11], backbitings, whisperings, swellings [ 1Co_8:1-2 ], tumults [disorders];
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 I may not find you as I wish
I may not find you as I wish
"I may not like what I find" or "I may not like what I see you doing"
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you might not find me as you wish
"you might not like what you see in me"
there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder
The abstract nouns "quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder" can be translated using verbs. Possible meanings are 1) "some of you will be arguing with us, jealous of us, suddenly becoming very angry with us, trying to take our places as leaders, speaking falsely about us, telling about our private lives, being proud, and opposing us as we try to lead you" or 2) "some of you will be arguing with each other, jealous of each other, suddenly becoming very angry with each other, quarreling with each other over who will be the leader, speaking falsely about each other, telling about each other's private lives, being proud, and opposing those whom God has chosen to lead you" (See: Abstract Nouns)
I might be grieved by many of those who have sinned before now
"I will be grieved because many of them have not given up their old sins"
did not repent of the impurity and sexual immorality and lustful indulgence
Possible meanings are 1) Paul is saying almost the same thing three times for emphasis. AT: "did not stop commiting the sexual sins that they practiced" or 2) Paul is speaking of three different sins. (See: Parallelism)
of the impurity
The abstract noun impurity can be translated as "things that do not please God." AT: "of secretly thinking about and desiring things that do not please God" (See: Abstract Nouns)
of the ... sexual immorality
The abstract noun "immorality" can be translated as "immoral deeds." AT: "of doing sexually immoral deeds" (See: Abstract Nouns)
of the ... lustful indulgence
The abstract noun "indulgence" can be translated using a verb phrase. AT: "of ... doing things that satisfy immoral sexual desire" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
fear
jealous
anger
gossip
proud
God
humble
sin
repent
sexual immorality
lust
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 12:20-21 Paul feared encountering renewed rebellion and resistance during…
12:20-21 Paul feared encountering renewed rebellion and resistance during his upcoming visit, with the Corinthians relapsed into their old ways. • and you won’t like my response: If Paul had to, he would deal sternly with flagrant sinners (cp. 1:23–2:17; 1 Cor 4:21).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.