II Corinthians 12:20 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 12:20 Commentary: Fear of Finding Disunity
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul fears finding the Corinthians in strife, jealousy, anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul fears visiting Corinth and finding the church still in disunity, which would force him to use sharp discipline instead of coming in joy.
- Key words: eritheiai (factions, originally 'electioneering'), psithurismoi (whisperings, secret slander), phusiōseis (swellings, conceit).
- Main debate: Minimal, all traditions see this as a warning against division and a window into Paul's pastoral heart.
- Theological theme: The nature of Christian community; love requires honesty; church discipline is a form of mercy, not punishment.
- Best use: Preaching on unity, small-group examination of church health, or teaching on pastoral care.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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,
KJV King James Version 1769
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:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For I fear lest perhaps, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque temo que|strong="G3361, G4458" cuando llegare, no os halle tales como quiero, y yo sea hallado de vosotros cual no queréis; que|strong="G3361, G4458" haya entre vosotros contiendas, envidias, iras, disensiones, detracciones, murmuraciones, elaciones, bandos:
Porque eu temo que, quando vier, eu não vos encontre da maneira que eu quero; e vós me encontreis da maneira que não quereis; para que não haja brigas, invejas, iras, rivalidades, difamações, fofocas, arrogâncias e tumultos.
Car je crains de ne pas vous trouver, à mon arrivée, tels que je voudrais, et d’ être moi-même trouvé par vous tel que vous ne voudriez pas. Je crains de trouver des querelles, de la jalousie, des animosités, des cabales, des médisances, des calomnies, de l’ orgueil, des troubles.
Denn ich fürchte, wenn ich komme, daß ich euch nicht finde, wie ich will, und ihr mich auch nicht findet, wie ihr wollt; daß Hader, Neid, Zorn, Zank, Afterreden, Ohrenblasen, Aufblähen, Aufruhr dasei;
Want ik vrees, dat als ik gekomen zal zijn, ik u niet enigszins zal vinden zodanigen als ik wil, en dat ik van u zal gevonden worden zodanig als gij niet wilt; dat er niet enigszins zijn twisten, nijdigheden, toorn, gekijf, achterklap, oorblazingen, opgeblazenheden, beroerten;
Poiché io temo, quando verrò, di trovarvi non quali vorrei, e d’essere io stesso da voi trovato quale non mi vorreste; temo che vi siano tra voi contese, gelosie, ire, rivalità, maldicenze, insinuazioni, superbie, tumulti;
Bo się boję, bym snać przyszedłszy, nie znalazł was takimi, jakimi bym nie chciał, a ja też żebym nie był znaleziony od was, jakiego byście wy nie chcieli; by snać między wami nie było swarów, zazdrości, gniewów, zwad, obmowisk, mruczenia, nadymania i rozterków;
Ибо я опасаюсь, чтобы мне, по пришествии моем, не найти вас такими, какими не желаю, также чтобы и вам не найти меня таким, каким не желаете: чтобы не найти у вас раздоров, зависти, гнева, ссор, клевет, ябед, гордости, беспорядков,
我怕 我再來的時候，見 你們 不 合 我所想望的，你們 見 我 也不 合 你們所想望的；又 怕有紛爭、嫉妒、惱怒、結黨、毀謗、讒言、狂傲、混亂的事。
For I have a fear that, when I come, you may not be answering to my desire, and that I may not be answering to yours; that there may be fighting, hate, angry feeling, divisions, evil talk about others, secrets, thoughts of pride, outbursts against authority;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 12:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree on the pastoral heart behind Paul's fear. As Calvin notes, this fear 'proceeded from love', Paul was not worried about his own comfort but about their spiritual welfare. Gill and Barnes both stress that Paul hoped to avoid using the 'apostolical rod' of discipline. The eight sins listed are not random; they form a chain that destroys community. Clarke observes that 'brotherly love and charity seem to have been driven out' of the Corinthian church. The passage functions as both a warning and an explanation: Paul delayed his visit because he wanted them to repent before he arrived, sparing them from the severity he would otherwise have to bring. Across traditions, from Wesleyan to Reformed, the meaning is clear: disunity among believers is a deep wound that requires pastoral care, not merely a problem to be managed. Paul's honest fear invites readers to examine whether their own communities reflect the love of Christ or the divisions of the world.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul fears that when he visits Corinth, he will find the church still marked by division and sin, and that he will be forced to use his apostolic authority in a way that neither he nor they desire.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Paul's fear | All traditions agree that Paul's fear arises from genuine love and concern for the Corinthians' spiritual well-being, not from personal insecurity. | Some (Clarke) see Paul's fear as the reason he delayed his visit, while others (Calvin, Barnes) emphasize it as motivation for writing this letter to avoid severity. |
| Meaning of 'factions' (eritheiai) | All agree it denotes divisive, self-seeking behavior that tears the church apart. | Some translations render it 'strife' or 'contentions'; others emphasize the political root of 'electioneering' for office. The core meaning of selfish ambition is uncontested. |
| The severity of Paul's discipline | Paul has authority to act but hopes not to use it. The goal is restoration, not punishment. | Traditions differ on what 'the rod' entails, Catholic and Orthodox see it as excommunication or penance; Protestant traditions emphasize church discipline that can include removal from fellowship. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes to a church he founded in AD 50-51, during a stay of 18 months (Acts 18). Corinth was a prosperous port city with a reputation for moral looseness. The church reflected its environment: factions formed around leaders (I Corinthians 1:11), sexual sin went unrebuked (1 Corinthians 5), and members sued each other in pagan courts. Paul's first letter addressed these issues, but reports from Titus and others suggested that problems persisted, and false apostles had arrived, questioning Paul's authority (2 Corinthians 10-13).
This verse sits at the climax of Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry. He had just said that everything he does is 'for your edifying' (2 Corinthians 12:19). Now he gives the reason why that edifying is so needed: he fears finding them unchanged. The phrase 'lest perhaps' (μήπως) appears twice, signaling genuine uncertainty. Paul is not bluffing.
The catalog of eight sins echoes patterns found in Greco-Roman moral lists criticizing political rivalry and social disorder. Several terms carry political overtones: eritheiai (factions) originally meant 'electioneering', seeking office by intrigue. Akatastasiai (disorder) could refer to civil unrest. The church, meant to be a colony of heaven, was acting like a contentious city assembly. Secret slander (psithurismoi) and open slander (katalaliai) together show disunity spreading through both whispers and public attacks, a community where trust had collapsed.
Paul's fear, then, is not abstract. He had seen this happen before. He knew that unresolved division does not heal on its own. And he knew that the longer he waited, the harder the discipline would have to be.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The manuscript tradition is consistent, and the catalog of eight vices appears in the same order across the major witnesses. The translation differences seen in English versions reflect lexical choices (e.g., 'debates' vs 'strifes' for eris) rather than underlying textual uncertainty.
Reception History
Paul's catalog of sins has been used across centuries as a diagnostic tool for the health of Christian communities. Early church writers like Chrysostom emphasized that Paul's fear was a mark of true pastoral love. Medieval commentators read the list as an examination of conscience for clergy and laity alike. Reformers, especially Calvin, highlighted the need for church discipline to prevent such disorders. In the Wesleyan tradition, Adam Clarke saw the passage as explaining Paul's change of travel plans, a pastoral strategy born of love. Modern commentaries continue to apply the list to church conflicts, noting that the same patterns of slander, gossip, and factionalism plague congregations today. The verse remains a sobering call to examine whether our churches are places where the Spirit's fruit, love, joy, peace, is being cultivated or choked out.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A pastor's honest fear. Paul admits his own anxiety about visiting. This vulnerability is not weakness; it is love in action. He wants their best, not his reputation.
- A community in crisis. The eight sins trace a progression from conflict (strife, jealousy, anger) to hidden damage (slander, gossip) to open rebellion (arrogance, disorder). The church had become a mirror of Corinth's fractured society.
- Discipline as mercy. Paul's willingness to use authority is not a threat but a rescue. He would rather they repent now than face the rod later. God's correction is always an invitation back to life.
Five-point outline
- The fear of the apostle. Paul's language is conditional ('when I come, I might find'). He holds out hope they will change.
- The mutual disappointment. Paul may find them not as he wants; they may find him not as they want. Sin blocks mutual joy.
- The cancer of division. Each sin listed, from strife to disorder, feeds the next. A church that tolerates gossip will soon be torn apart by factions.
- The cost of ignoring sin. Paul grieved over the unrepentant (2 Corinthians 12:21). His heartbreak is a model for how we should respond to sin in our midst.
- The path forward. Repentance restores fellowship. Paul writes to spare them, not to condemn them. The letter itself is an act of grace.
Illustration hooks
- A coach who benched a star player for breaking team rules, not out of anger, but because he wanted the team to succeed. The player felt humiliated until he saw the coach's tears after the game.
- A family that stopped speaking after one overheard conversation was repeated to the wrong person. A single whisper ignited years of silence.
- A city council where no decision can be made because every member is more concerned with their own agenda than the common good. The church in Corinth was heading that way.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know when conflict in my church is serious enough to require discipline?
- Is it okay for a pastor to admit fear about the state of the church?
- What is the difference between gossip and asking for prayer about someone's struggles?
Leading a Discussion
Paul's honesty about his fear may surprise us. He does not pretend everything is fine. He names what he dreads finding: a church torn apart by its own members. Small groups can use this passage to talk about the health of their own community and the courage it takes to address division.
Discussion questions
- Paul says he fears that when he comes, he might find them not as he wishes, and they might find him not as they wish. What does this mutual disappointment say about the relationship between pastor and congregation?
- Look at the eight sins Paul lists. Which of these seem like 'small' sins to you? Which are obviously destructive? How do they connect to one another?
- Why does Paul include both secret 'whisperings' and open 'slander'? What does that reveal about how disunity spreads?
- In what ways can a church today display the 'arrogance' (swellings) Paul mentions? How does pride keep a community from repentance?
- Paul writes this letter to avoid having to use his apostolic authority when he arrives. What does that teach us about how we should handle problems in our church or our relationships?
- How do you know when a conflict in the church is a sign of spiritual illness versus a normal disagreement? Where is the line?
- What steps can our group take to be known as peacemakers rather than people who sow division?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 41:7 | All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me. |
| Proverbs 16:28 | A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. |
| Romans 1:29 | being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, |
| I Corinthians 1:11 | For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. |
| I Corinthians 3:3 | for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? |
| I Corinthians 3:4 | For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly? |
| I Corinthians 4:6 | Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. |
| I Corinthians 4:8 | You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you! |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that Paul's "I fear" refers to the past, explaining why he delayed visiting Corinth and sent Titus instead. Paul avoided coming personally until he had proof their divisions were healed and sins repented. Otherwise, he would have had to use stern discipline instead of coming as a tender father.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that Paul's harsh warnings were not meant to threaten but to spare the Corinthians. He wanted them to correct their disorders before his arrival so he would not be forced to use his apostolic authority in stern discipline. A pleasant visit for both sides depended on the Corinthians removing their envy, strife, and factions beforehand.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Paul's fear about his authority being despised was motivated by love for the Corinthians, not self-interest. Paul sought to maintain respect so they would heed his correction, thus avoiding the need for harsher discipline. This models how pastors should use gentle remedies before resorting to severity.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible School observes that Paul here shifts from defending himself to exercising his full apostolic authority. It clarifies that the Greek word translated "debates" originally meant strifes, while "strifes" actually refers to party spirit or self-seeking. "Backbitings" are open slanders, and "whisperings" are secret revilings.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight Paul's pastoral dread: he fears arriving to find the Corinthians filled with the very sins that destroy church unity. The specific catalog—strife, envy, wraths, contentions, slanders, whisperings, swellings, tumults—shows that Paul is less worried about false doctrine than about the relational rot that makes fellowship impossible.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill lists the specific sins Paul feared finding among the Corinthians: debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and tumults. Each represents a breach of Christian love and order, from secret gossip to open pride and factionalism in church meetings.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that Paul's stern warnings aim to prevent a painful confrontation: if the Corinthians are still practicing sins like factions, slander, and arrogant pride when he arrives, he will have to act harshly against them. The Greek words point to self-seeking scheming and puffing up oneself, which Paul desperately wants them to abandon.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry charges the Corinthians with forcing Paul into an unseemly self-defense by failing to commend him as they should have. Paul's "boasting" was their fault, not his choice, because they neglected to acknowledge the apostolic signs he had plainly demonstrated among them.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the original Greek terms behind these sins, noting that each carries a distinct nuance. He points out that "strifes" is better rendered as "factions," while "wraths" implies outbursts of anger, "whisperings" means secret slanders, and "swellings" refers to conceited inflation.