2 Corinthians 12:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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:

I shall not

2 Corinthians 12:21

2 Corinthians 13:9

And that

Debates

Whisperings

Romans 1:29

Swellings

2 Peter 2:18

Jude 1:16

General references

2 Corinthians 13:6

Galatians 5:15

Bible References

I shall not

I am afraid that, when I come, my God will humiliate me in front of you, and I will be grieved over many [of those] who have sinned in the past without repenting of the [moral] impurity, sexual immorality and unrestrained indecency they have practiced.

For we are glad when we are weak and you are powerful. And we are also praying for your complete restoration [i.e., to spiritual maturity].

And that

But I appeal to God as my witness [i.e., to verify that I am telling the truth]; it was in order to spare you [i.e., from a disciplinary action] that I decided not to return to Corinth.

So, I decided for myself not to make another painful visit to you.

I make this request so that I do not have to be bold when I am present [with you], and feel compelled to speak in an authoritative tone to some people [there] who think we are living by worldly standards.

I told you the last time I was there, and now before returning, I [again] warn those who have sinned in the past as well as the rest, that if I come again I will not spare you [i.e., I will rebuke and discipline you],

Now some of you have become arrogant, thinking that I would not [dare to] come to you.

For although physically absent [from you], I am truly present with you in spirit and have already judged the person who did this [terrible] thing, just as if I were there [in person].

Debates

For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by some of Chloe's family, that there is quarreling [going on] among you.

for you are still worldly [minded]. And since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, is that not evidence that you are [still] worldly and living like [unspiritual] people?

Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and to Apollos as an illustration for your benefit, so that you might learn to "follow the written message." [Note: This is thought to have been a common way of referring, in that day, to the importance of adhering to Old Testament Scripture]. So, none of you should be more proud of one [leader] than of another.

Indeed, the fact that you have lawsuits with one another is [evidence of] a complete failure among you. Why should you not rather take the wrong? Why should you not rather accept being cheated?

But if anyone is inclined to argue [about this matter], neither we [apostles] nor the churches of God have any [other] custom than this.

Did the message of God originate from you [i.e., the church in Corinth]? Or, were you people the only ones who received it?

But if you [unlovingly] bite and eat one another [i.e., figuratively], be careful that you do not totally consume one another.

So, put away from you all [kinds of] bitterness and anger and wrath and brawling and slander, along with all [kinds of] malice [i.e., bad attitudes],

But if you people have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, do not be arrogant [over it] and deny the truth.

Where do conflicts and fights among you come from? Do they not come from your [desire for] pleasures which produces inner conflict?

Therefore, you should put out of your lives all malice [i.e., bad attitudes], and all deceit and hypocrisy, and all envy and unwholesome talk.

Whisperings

They are full of all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and maliciousness. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,

Swellings

[Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.

These people are gripers and complainers, living according to their own [evil] desires, whose mouths speak boastfully, and who show partiality [toward certain people] to gain some advantage.

General references

But I hope that you people will realize that we [apostles] are not counterfeit.

But if you [unlovingly] bite and eat one another [i.e., figuratively], be careful that you do not totally consume one another.