2 Corinthians 1:23
in 2 Corinthians 1I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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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This verse in 2 Corinthians 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
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.
This site's exposition
I call God for a record upon my soul
on 2 Corinthians 1:23-24
I call God for a record upon my soul: Paul swears to the true reason for the delayed visit under the weight of an oath, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth, a painful visit avoided for the church's own sake rather than from unreliability. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: verse 24 draws the line the whole defense has been building toward, Paul's authority over Corinth is real but it is not lordship over conscience. For by faith ye stand: the church's standing rests on its own faith before God, not on Paul's control of it, and the commentators take the verse as Paul's own limit on apostolic authority, stated in his own words.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Here Paul is addressing people who apparently wanted to reform but were not making much of an effort in that direction. It was to spare them until they pulled themselves together that he went elsewhere for the time being. Paul did not want them to …
"But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth." What sayest thou, O blessed Paul? To spare them thou camest not to Corinth? Surely thou presentest us with something of a contradiction. For a little above thou saidst that thou therefore camest not, because thou purposest not according to the flesh nor art thine own master, but art led about every where by the authority of the Spirit, and didst set forth thine afflictions. But here thou sayest it was thine own act that thou camest not, and not from the authority of the Spirit; for he saith, "To spare you I forbare to come to Corinth." What then is one to say? either, that this too was itself of the Spirit, and that he himself wished to come but the Spirit suggested to him not to do so, urging the motive of sparing them; or else, that he is speaking of some other coming, and would signify that before he wrote the former Epistle he was minded to come, and for love's sake restrained himself lest he should find them yet unamended. What is the expression, "to spare you?" I heard, he saith, that some among you had committed fornication; I would not therefore come and make you sorry: for had I come, I must needs have enquired into the matter, and prosecuted and punished, and exacted justice from many. I judged it then better to be away and to give opportunity for repentance, than to be with you and to prosecute, and be still more incensed.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he says, but I call God to witness, he gives his excuse for not coming; and this is by oath which is greater. In regard to this he does three things: first, he states the excuse; secondly, he answers a tacit question (v. 24a); …
Above he said that he did not come to them because he did not have authority over himself and was not permitted by the Spirit. How then does he now say that he did not come in order to spare them? Because either this very …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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?
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
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.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
I call God for a record upon my soul - The apostle here resumes the subject which he left 2Co 1:16, and in the most solemn manner calls God to witness, and consequently to punish, if he asserted any thing false, that it was through tenderness to them that he did not visit Corinth at the time proposed. As there were so many scandals among them, the apostle had reason to believe that he should be obliged to use the severe and authoritative part of his function in the excommunication of those who had sinned, and delivering them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, etc.; but to give them space to amend, and to see what effect his epistle might produce, (not having heard as yet from them), he proposed to delay his coming. It is plain, as several commentators have observed, 1. That St. Paul’s doctrine had been opposed by some of Corinth, 1Co 15:12. His apostleship questioned, 1Co 9:1, 1Co 9:2, and 2Co 12:13. 2. Himself despised, and treated as a person who, because of the consciousness he had of his own worthlessness, dared not to come, 1Co 4:18. His letters, say they, are weighty and powerful - full of boastings of what he can and what he will do; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible, 2Co 10:10. 3. This being the state in which his reputation was then at Corinth, and he having promised to come to them, 1Co 16:5, he could not but think it necessary to vindicate his failing them by reasons which should be both convincing and kind, such as those contained in the preceding verses. See Dodd and others.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul - It is well remarked by Rosenmuller, that the second chapter should have commenced here, since there is here a transition in the subject more distinct than where the second chapter is actually made to begin. Here Tyndale commences the second chapter. This verse, with the subsequent statements, is designed to show them the true reason why he had changed his purpose, and had not visited them according to his first proposal.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μάρτυρα | martura | as witness | G3144 → | |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐπικαλοῦμαι | epikaloumai | call | G1941 → | |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμὴν | emen | my | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ψυχὴν | psuchen | soul | G5590 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| φειδόμενος | pheidomenos | sparing | G5339 → | 10 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| οὐκέτι | ouketi | no longer | G3756 →G2089 → | 140 times |
| ἦλθον | elthon | have I come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Κόρινθον· | korinthon | Corinth; | G2882 → |
ἘγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μάρτυραas witness
marturaG3144 →
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
ἐπικαλοῦμαιcall
epikaloumaiG1941 →
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἐμὴνmy
emenG1473 →839 times
ψυχὴνsoul
psuchenG5590 →
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
φειδόμενοςsparing
pheidomenosG5339 →10 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
οὐκέτιno longer
ἦλθονhave I come
elthonG2064 →628 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Κόρινθον·Corinth;
korinthonG2882 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:9God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
it 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 separate 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.
- Romans 9:1
Through
1 Corinthians 4:21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
it 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 separate 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 separate 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,
- 2 Corinthians 13:10
Through
2 Corinthians 13:10This 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…
it 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.
- 2 Corinthians 10:8
Where this verse is studied
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About 2 Corinthians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 4 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.