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2 Corinthians 12:20

in 2 Corinthians 12

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, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

KJV

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:

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This verse in 2 Corinthians 12

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

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.

This site's exposition

I may not find you as I wish

on 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Paul names the fear behind the letter, that his visit will find quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. The list echoes the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, which his earlier letter also addressed.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 28 on 2 Corinthians · Written before 407.

proposed

"For I fear, lest by any means when I come, I should not find you such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not." He is going to say something great and offensive. And therefore he also inserts this excuse [for it], both by saying, "All things are for your edifying," and by adding, "I fear," softening the harshness of what was presently going to be said. For it was not here out of arrogance nor the authority of a teacher, but out of a father's tender concern, when he is more fearful and trembling than the sinners themselves at that which is likely to reform them. And not even so does he run them down or make an absolute assertion; but says doubtingly, "lest by any means when I come, I should not find you such as I would." He did not say, 'not virtuous,' but "not such as I would," everywhere employing the terms of affection. And the words, "I should find," are of one who would express what is out of natural expectation, as are also those, "I shall be found by you." For the thing is not of deliberate choice, but of a necessity originating with you. Wherefore he says, "I should be found such as ye would not." He said not here, "such as I would not," but, with more severity, "such as ye wish not." For it would in that case become his own will, not indeed what he would first have willed, but his will nevertheless. For he might indeed have said again, 'such as I would not,' and so have showed his love: but he wishes not to relax his hearer. Yea rather, his words would in that case have been even harsher; but now he has at once dealt them a smarter blow and showed himself more gentle. For this is the characteristic of his wisdom; cutting more deeply, to strike more gently. […]

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

proposed

Do you see what fatherly care? Others sinned, yet Paul is alarmed, and does not state his thought directly, but with uncertainty. "Lest, when I come," he says, "I shall find you not such as I wish," that is, corrupted; and by necessity — "and …

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Having cited as one of the causes for commending the failure of the Corinthians to do the good things they should have done and for which he rebuked their ingratitude, he now states the other cause which arose from what they did in regard to …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Note, (1.) The falls and miscarriages of professors cannot but be a humbling consideration to a good minister; and God sometimes takes this way to humble those who might be under temptation to be lifted up: I fear lest my God will humble me among you. (2.) We have reason to bewail those who sin and do not repent, to bewail many that have sinned, and have not repented,
For I fear lest when I come,....
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Ambitious self-seeking; from a Greek root, "to work for hire." backbitings, whisperings--open "slanderings," and "whispering backbitings" (Ga 5:20). swellings--arrogant elation; puffing up of yourselves.
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. 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.

The words behind it

26 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.18 worksRevelation 3:15I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!8 worksJames 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.8 worksGalatians 5:15But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.7 worksRomans 1:29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,7 works1 Corinthians 3:3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?7 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Colossians 3:8But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.7 works1 Peter 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.6 worksGalatians 5:19–21The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;6 worksPhilippians 2:14Do everything without complaining or arguing,6 works1 Corinthians 1:11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.5 worksTitus 3:3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.5 worksJames 4:11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.5 worksPsalms 31:20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.5 worksJude 1:16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.4 worksProverbs 16:28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.4 works2 Corinthians 10:11Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.4 worksEphesians 4:31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.4 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    1 Peter 2:1

    Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 4:31

      Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.

    • James 1:21

      Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

    • James 4:11

      Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of…

    • 1 Peter 3:10

      For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

    • Colossians 3:5–8

      Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

  • Through

    Jude 1:16

    These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

    it leads to

    • 2 Peter 2:18

      With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

    • Philippians 2:14

      Do everything without complaining or arguing,

    • 2 Peter 2:10

      Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Corinthians

The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read 2 Corinthians 12 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 28 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.

Read on in 2 Corinthians 12 →