2 Corinthians 1:23 BSB

2 Corinthians 1:23

I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.

KJV

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

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Commentary

1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

I came not as yet--Greek, "no longer"; that is, I gave up my purpose of then visiting Corinth. He wished to give them time for repentance, that he might not have to use severity towards them.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

I call God for a record upon my soul - Was not St. Paul now speaking by the Spirit? And can a more solemn oath be conceived? Who then can imagine that Christ ever designed to forbid all swearing?

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He assures them that this is the true reason, after this very solemn manner: I call God for a record upon my soul --a way of speaking not justifiable where used in trivial matters; but this was very justifiable in the apostle, for his necessary vindication, and for the credit and usefulness of his ministry, which was struck at by his opposers.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

17 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Ἐγὼ	Egō	I myself	G1473 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
μάρτυρα	martura	as witness	G3144 →
τὸν	ton	<the>	G3588 →
θεὸν	theon	God	G2316 →
ἐπικαλοῦμαι	epikaloumai	call	G1941 →
ἐπὶ	epi	upon	G1909 →
τὴν	tēn	<the>	G3588 →
ἐμὴν	emēn	my	G1473 →
ψυχὴν	psuchēn	soul	G5590 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
φειδόμενος	pheidomenos	sparing	G5339 →
ὑμῶν	humōn	you	G4771 →
οὐκέτι	ouketi	no longer	G3756 →G2089 →
ἦλθον	ēlthon	have I come	G2064 →
εἰς	eis	to	G1519 →
Κόρινθον·	Korinthon	Corinth;	G2882 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Romans 1:9
God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
leads to
- Romans 9:1
  I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:18
  Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Ephesians 1:16–19
  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
- 2 Timothy 1:3
  I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
Through
1 Corinthians 4:21
Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 13:10
  This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 12:20–21
  For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage,…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2
  I 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,
Through
2 Corinthians 13:10
This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for…
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 10:8
  For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.