2 Corinthians 12:20 Meaning: The Sins That Break Christian Community
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
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:
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;
for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I--I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,
For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;
Meaning in one sentence
Paul fears finding the Corinthians divided by sin. This verse lists eight behaviors that destroy unity, and shows his deep pastoral love.
Context
Paul is writing to a church he founded, but one that has drifted. False teachers have sowed distrust, and some Corinthians question his authority. In the previous verses, Paul insists that everything he does is for their edification, not his own gain. Now he admits a raw fear: when he arrives for his next visit, he might find them still tangled in the same old patterns. The Corinthians had a reputation for division. Paul’s first letter to them dealt with quarrels over leaders, pride in spiritual gifts, and tolerance of serious sin. Here he names the specific behaviors he dreads finding, a list that reads like an autopsy of a broken fellowship. His fear is not for his own comfort, but for theirs.
Key Words
Three Greek words in this list are worth pausing over. The first, psithurismoi (whisperings), sounds like what it means, a hissing, secret slander. It appears only here in the New Testament, and in the Old Testament it is used for a snake charmer’s low murmur. This is not open argument; it is gossip that corrodes trust from the shadows. The second, phusiōseis (swellings or pride), paints a picture of being puffed up, inflated with self-importance. The same root appears in 1 Corinthians when Paul warns against being “puffed up” against each other. It is the opposite of the humble mind that holds a church together. The third, akatastasiai (disorders), describes a state of instability and confusion, the chaotic result when no one will yield. Together, these words show that Paul’s fear is not vague; it is a picture of what happens when a community stops loving.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across traditions, readers have seen this verse as a window into Paul’s pastoral heart. In the Wesleyan tradition, Adam Clarke notes that Paul was “unwilling to use the rod” and sent Titus in his place, hoping the Corinthians would repent before he had to come himself. Reformed commentators like Calvin read the fear as “proceeding from love”, Paul would rather correct gently than punish severely. Anglican scholars (Cambridge Bible) point out that Paul here “throws off the apologist and puts on the Apostle,” ready to use his authority if needed, but longing not to. All agree: the list of sins names the real enemies of Christian fellowship, whether in a first-century house church or a modern congregation.
A common misunderstanding
Some read Paul’s fear as self-protective, that he worries the Corinthians will reject him or think poorly of him. In fact, Paul’s concern runs deeper: he is afraid they will be found in sin, and that he will be forced into a severity that would pain them both. The verse weaves both fears together, but the motive is love, not reputation.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the quieter items on Paul’s list. Whisperings. Swellings of pride. You may not lead a faction, but have you spoken about someone when they were not in the room? Have you held onto a grudge that made you feel superior? Paul’s fear is that these small fractures become the dividing lines of a church. Take one relationship where you have been nursing a grievance. Before Sunday, pray for the grace to let it go, not for Paul’s sake, but for the health of the body you belong to.
Main takeaway: Paul’s fear for the Corinthian church shows that division and hidden sin among believers break the heart of a faithful pastor and grieve the Spirit.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul was sad because he worried his friends were fighting instead of loving each other. God wants us to be kind and not whisper mean things about people.
For ages 9, 12
Paul made a list of stuff that breaks a church apart: arguing, jealousy, anger, gossip, pride. He was scared to visit because he didn’t want to see those things. Ask yourself: do I ever gossip about someone at church? Do I act like I’m better than others? Paul wanted the Corinthians to live like Jesus, and he wants the same for us.
Questions People Ask
Why does Paul list so many specific sins here?
Paul is naming the real, observable breakdowns he saw in the Corinthian church. These were not hypothetical sins; they were the patterns that had already appeared in their gatherings, quarrels over leaders, pride in gifts, and secret slanders. The list shows that disunity is never just one thing; it spreads into many forms of brokenness.
What does 'whisperings' mean in this verse?
The Greek word is psithurismoi, which sounds like a hiss. It means secret, quiet slander, talking about someone behind their back instead of to their face. In the Old Testament, the same word is used for the murmuring of a snake charmer. It is a subtle poison that destroys trust in a community.
Is Paul afraid of being rejected by the Corinthians?
Partly. He says he fears they will find him 'not such as they would', meaning he might have to use his apostolic authority in a way they would not like. But his deeper fear is for their spiritual condition: that he will find them still full of strife and sin. His fear is not selfish; it is the worry of a father who loves his children and hates to see them hurt themselves.
How does this verse connect to the problems Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians?
In 1 Corinthians, Paul dealt with divisions over leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas), lawsuits among believers, and pride in spiritual gifts. This list in 2 Corinthians 12:20, strife, jealousy, factions, pride, shows that those same problems had not gone away. The church had made some progress, but Paul still had reason to be anxious about their unity.
What is the 'righteous anger' that Paul might show if he comes?
Paul does not use the phrase 'righteous anger' here. He says the Corinthians might find him 'such as they would not', meaning severe. But earlier in the letter (2 Cor 10:8, 13:10), Paul says his authority is given for building up, not tearing down. So if he has to be stern, it will be out of love, not temper. The true enemy is not Paul's anger but the sins that force his hand.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study