2 Corinthians 13 · Verse 2

2 Corinthians 13:2

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:
2 Corinthians 13:2, King James Version

2 Corinthians 13:2 in other translations

BSBI already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
WEBI have warned previously, and I warn again, 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,
ASVI have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
YLTI have said before, and I say it before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,
DARBYI have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.
BBEI said before, and still say it before I come, as being present for the second time, though I am still away from you, to those who have done wrong before, and to all the others, that if I come again I will not have pity;
WebsterI told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them who heretofore have sinned, and to all others, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

What does 2 Corinthians 13:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. 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 I were present the second time," namely, this next time, is quite inconsistent with 2Co 13:1, "this is the third time I am coming to you," as Paul could not have called the same journey at once "the second" and "the third time" of his coming. The antithesis between "the second time" and "now" is palpable. if I come again, &c.--that is, whensoever I come again (Ac 20:2). These were probably the very words of his former threat which he now repeats again.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. I told you before. That I would not spare offenders; that I would certainly punish them. He had intimated this before in the first epistle, 1Cor 4:21, 1Cor 5.

And foretell you. Now apprize 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, but had been disappointed. The time when he had been with them is recorded in Acts 18:1, seq. He now uses the same language to them which he says he would use if he were with them, as he had expected to be, the second time. See the remarks of Paley on this passage, referred to above.

And being absent. 1Cor 5:3.

To them which heretofore have sinned. To all the offenders in the church. They had supposed that he would not come to them, 1Cor 4:18, or that if he came he would not dare to inflict punishment, 2Cor 10:9-11. They had, therefore, given themselves greater liberty, and had pursued their own course, regardless of his authority and commands.

I will not spare. I will punish them. They shall not escape.

(e) "which heretofore" 2Cor 12:21

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 I 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, Act 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, 1Cor 16:7; hence it is that St. Luke makes no mention of this second journey in the Acts. Finally he determined to visit them a third time; as in effect he did about the year 57. Of his second voyage to Corinth, which is not mentioned in the Acts, he speaks expressly in this verse." I do not see sufficient evidence to induce me to subscribe to this opinion of Calmet. I believe the apostle had been but once before at Corinth; and this matter is set in a clear point of view by Dr. Paley. See the Introduction, Section 11. I will not spare - I will inflict the proper punishment on every incorrigible offender. It does appear, from all the apostle's threatenings, that he was possessed of a miraculous power, by which he could inflict punishment on offenders; that he could deliver the body to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, 1Cor 4:21; 1Cor 5:5. What he says he told them before probably relates to 1Cor 4:21 : Shall I come with a rod, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:1-6

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 power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 13:1-6 →

2 Corinthians 13:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

προείρηκαproeirēkaI have warnedG4280
καὶkaiandG2532
προλέγω,prolegōI warn,G4302
ὡςhōsasG5613
παρὼνparōnbeing presentG3918
τὸtotheG3588
δεύτερονdeuteronsecond timeG1208
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀπὼνapōnbeing absentG548
νῦνnunnowG3568
γράφω,graphōI am writingG1125
τοῖςtoisto thoseG3588
προημαρτηκόσινproēmartēkosinhaving sinned beforeG4258
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
λοιποῖςloipoisrestG3062
πᾶσιν,pasinall,G3956
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐὰνeanifG1437
ἔλθωelthōI may comeG2064
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸtothe [same]G3588
πάλινpalinagainG3825
οὐounotG3756
φείσομαι.pheisomaiI will spare [anyone].G5339

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 13:2

  • 2 Corinthians 1:23

    Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:8-11

    For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:1-2

    Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

    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: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:5

    To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:10

    Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:19-21

    But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
told.
1:23; 10:1,2,8-11; 12:20; 1Co 4:19-21; 5:5
being.
10
heretofore.
12:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:2

    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:

  • 2 Corinthians 13:3

    Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He dicho antes, y ahora digo otra vez como presente, y ahora ausente lo escribo á los que antes pecaron, y á todos los demás, que si voy otra vez, no perdonaré;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai déjà dit, et je dis à l’avance, comme si j’étais présent pour la seconde fois, et maintenant étant absent, à ceux qui ont péché auparavant et à tous les autres, que si je viens encore une fois, je n’épargnerai pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich habe zuvor gesagt und sage zuvor, als wie das zweite Mal anwesend und jetzt abwesend, denen, die zuvor gesündigt haben, und den übrigen allen, daß, wenn ich wiederum komme, ich nicht schonen werde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Prædixi, et prædico, ut præsens, et nunc absens iis qui ante peccaverunt, et ceteris omnibus, quoniam si venero iterum, non parcam.