II Corinthians 13:1 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 13:1 Commentary: Paul’s Third Coming and the Witness Principle
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul’s warning of a third visit, the quotation from Deuteronomy 19:15, and how the witness principle guides church discipline.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul announces his third coming and applies the OT witness principle to his apostolic discipline, showing fairness and firmness.
- Key Words: τρίτον (third), ἔρχομαι (I am coming, present tense indicating determined intention), μαρτύρων (witnesses), σταθήσεται (will be established, future passive, legal certainty).
- Main Debate: Whether Paul had already made a second visit to Corinth, and whether the three comings themselves or actual people serve as the witnesses.
- Theological Theme: Divine patience and justice, multiple warnings precede judgment, giving room for repentance.
- Best Use: As a model for church discipline that is patient, evidence-based, and redemptive in aim.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
KJV King James Version 1769
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
This third time do I come unto you; on the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every saying be established;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Behold, this is the third time I am coming to you: In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
ESTA tercera vez voy á vosotros. En la boca de dos ó de tres testigos consistirá todo negocio.
Esta é a terceira vez que venho até vós; pela boca de duas ou três testemunhas toda palavra será firmada.
Je vais chez vous pour la troisième fois. Toute affaire se réglera sur la déclaration de deux ou de trois témoins.
Komme ich zum drittenmal zu euch, so soll in zweier oder dreier Zeugen Mund bestehen allerlei Sache.
Dit is de derde maal, dat ik tot u kom; in den mond van twee of drie getuigen zal alle woord bestaan.
Questa è la terza volta ch’io vengo da voi. Ogni parola sarà confermata dalla bocca di due o di tre testimoni.
Trzeci to już raz idę do was. W ustach dwóch lub trzech świadków stanie każde słowo.
В третий уже раз иду к вам. При устах двух или трех свидетелей будет твердо всякое слово.
這是 我第三 次要到 你們 那裡去。「憑 兩 三 個人的口 作見證，句句 都要定準。」
This is the third time that I am coming to you. From the mouth of two or three witnesses will every word be made certain.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 13:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Paul declares his intention to come a third time, and he anchors his disciplinary procedure in the Old Testament witness principle from Deuteronomy 19:15. Commentators agree that Paul is not acting on rumor or caprice; he will proceed only on established evidence. Barnes notes that punishment will follow only when an offence is ‘proved by two or three witnesses.’ Calvin interprets the three comings themselves as carrying the weight of three testimonies, an ‘accommodation’ of the law applied to his own repeated efforts for the Corinthians’ welfare. Gill and Matthew Henry view the first and second epistles as the prior warnings, making this third coming the final judicial step. Even where commentators differ on whether Paul had already made a second visit, JFB and Vincent argue he had; Wesley and Gill see it as an intended visit, they concur that the apostle is deliberately slowing the process, giving ample opportunity for repentance before exercising severity. The goal is not punishment for its own sake but the church’s restoration to purity and unity.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Actual third visit: The present tense of ἔρχομαι plus the preceding context (2 Cor 12:14, 13:2) imply Paul had been twice before. Supported by JFB, Lange, Vincent, Alford.
- Intended or epistolary visit: Wesley and Gill interpret ‘coming’ as purpose or as represented by letters; Paul had only been once in person.
- Three comings as witnesses: Calvin and JFB see Paul’s repeated visits as fulfilling the law’s requirement of multiple attestations.
- Formal investigation with literal witnesses: Barnes and the Cambridge Bible understand Paul to mean he will bring actual witnesses to verify charges.
What is clear: Paul is coming with apostolic authority and will apply the Old Testament principle of multiple testimony to his disciplinary process, ensuring that judgment is fair, patient, and based on solid evidence.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Paul’s actual visits to Corinth | Paul founded the church on his first visit (Acts 18). He now intends to come a third time. | Some commentators (JFB, Lange, Vincent) hold that Paul made a second, unrecorded visit. Others (Matthew Henry, Gill, Wesley) see the second visit as an intended visit that did not happen, or as coming by letters. |
| Application of Deuteronomy 19:15 | Paul uses the legal requirement of multiple witnesses to ensure careful procedure. | Calvin and JFB interpret the three comings themselves as the three witnesses. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible understand it as a formal investigation using actual people as witnesses. |
| Purpose of the witness principle in this context | To prevent hasty or unfair judgment and to give adequate warning. | Some see it primarily as a threat (Paul is about to judge), others as an assurance of due process (Paul will not act without evidence). |
| The nature of Paul’s authority to punish | Paul claims authority from Christ to act decisively. | Barnes and others view it as miraculous power to inflict punishment; Calvin and Reformed commentators see it as apostolic authority to pronounce judgment and excommunicate. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church was strained by conflict, false accusations, and pastoral disappointment. After founding the church during his first visit (Acts 18), he later wrote a severe letter (now lost) and sent Titus to mediate. A significant number of modern commentators, including JFB, Lange, and Vincent, believe Paul made a second, painful visit to Corinth that is not recorded in Acts, a visit hinted at in 2 Corinthians 2:1 (“I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow”) and 12:14, 13:2. The incestuous offender and the challenge to Paul’s apostolic authority likely surfaced during that visit. Now, as he planned a third visit, his critics accused him of being unreliable and bold only from a distance (2 Corinthians 10:1, 10:10).
By quoting Deuteronomy 19:15, Paul invokes a foundational legal safeguard in Israel’s judicial system: no one could be convicted on the testimony of a single witness. The Greek word ῥῆμα (“word” or “matter”) in the quotation carries the legal sense of a charge or case, echoing the Septuagint of Deuteronomy. Jesus himself applied this principle to church discipline in Matthew 18:16, instructing that private confrontation must precede public witness. Paul thus presents his coming not as a display of arbitrary power but as a formal proceeding governed by due process. The three comings, whether literal visits or a sequence of warning letters, satisfy the requirement for multiple attestations. This careful procedure answered the charge that Paul was hasty; it also underlined the seriousness of the situation. He was coming, he would investigate, and if the facts held, he would act. The church was being given every chance to set things right before his arrival.
Textual Notes
Gill notes that some manuscripts, including the Alexandrian codex and the Vulgate, read “Behold, this third time” (adding ἰδού) and also “I am ready to come” (ἕτοιμος ἔρχομαι) instead of simply “I am coming.” The Syriac version supports the idea of readiness. These variants do not substantially change the meaning: Paul is emphatically announcing his impending arrival. The main text used in modern critical editions (followed by WEB, BSB, and others) stands as “This is the third time I am coming.” No variant alters the quotation from Deuteronomy or its application.
Reception History
From the patristic period onward, this verse has been central to discussions of church discipline and apostolic authority. Chrysostom, in his homilies on 2 Corinthians, highlighted Paul’s restraint: he did not come immediately but gave repeated warnings. In the medieval period, the verse was used to support the legal principle that accusations require multiple witnesses, a cornerstone of canon law. During the Reformation, Calvin emphasized the “accommodation” of the Old Testament law, arguing that Paul’s three comings function as the required testimonies. In later Protestant tradition, this passage has been cited in debates over the number of Paul’s visits to Corinth, with the majority of modern commentators (Alford, Vincent, JFB, and others) arguing for an unrecorded second visit. The verse also appears in judicial contexts within church polity, reminding leaders to gather evidence before acting. Its enduring pastoral value lies in the balance it strikes, firm discipline wrapped in patient, repeated warning.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Certainty of the Coming. Paul has said he would come, and now he says it a third time. His word is not empty.
- The Principle of Witnesses. God’s justice requires evidence. Paul will not judge on rumor or partiality.
- The Purpose of Discipline. The goal is restoration. Paul wants the church to repent so he can come with joy, not severity.
Five-Point Outline
- Paul’s promise of a third visit, his commitment to the Corinthians despite obstacles.
- The legal foundation, Deuteronomy as a safeguard against injustice and haste.
- The role of witnesses, both literal people (as in a formal investigation) and figurative testimonies (previous warnings).
- The seriousness of sin, not to be swept under the rug; the church must be purified.
- The hope of repentance, the ultimate aim is that Paul will not need to use his authority severely.
Illustration Hooks
- A parent who warns a teenager twice: “The third time there will be consequences.” The pattern builds credibility and gives opportunity to change.
- A legal system that requires multiple witnesses for a conviction, fairness prevents false accusations from ruining a life.
- A supervisor who investigates complaints thoroughly before acting, rather than firing someone based on one angry email.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Is Paul being threatening or loving here?
- Why did Paul wait so long to act? Was he weak?
- How does this verse apply to church discipline today, or does it belong to the apostolic age only?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Paul preparing the Corinthians for his coming. He quotes a familiar Old Testament law about witnesses. The small group can explore how Paul’s method balances seriousness with patience.
Discussion Questions
- What does Paul say about his coming in this verse? How does he describe it?
- What Old Testament verse does he quote, and why would it be relevant to the situation at Corinth?
- In what sense might Paul’s three comings serve as “witnesses” against the offenders, as Calvin suggests?
- How does this principle of multiple witnesses protect both the accused and the church?
- Jesus applied the same law in Matthew 18:15-16. How does that context compare to Paul’s situation?
- Why is it important that Paul announces his intentions ahead of time rather than simply arriving without warning?
- How can your small group apply the principle of patience and due process when disagreements arise?
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)
| Numbers 35:30 | “‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies. |
| Deuteronomy 17:6 | At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. |
| Deuteronomy 19:15 | One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. |
| I Kings 21:10 | Set two men, wicked fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death.” |
| I Kings 21:13 | The two men, the wicked fellows, came in and sat before him. The wicked fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death with stones. |
| Matthew 18:16 | But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. |
| Matthew 26:60 | and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward |
| Matthew 26:61 | and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’” |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes holds that Paul's mention of "two or three witnesses" refers to the Jewish legal standard for evidence before imposing church discipline. He sets aside other interpretations, such as those linking it to Paul's own repeated promises, insisting that punishment will only follow established proof from multiple witnesses.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees Paul's three planned visits as more than persistence; they function as three witnesses under the Mosaic law. By coming a third time, Paul brings the authority of multiple testimonies, so his severity toward unrepentant members is legally and pastorally justified.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that Paul is announcing his intent to conduct a thorough, formal investigation of the Corinthian church if their conduct requires it. Paul will not assume or take anything for granted based on reports alone, but will follow the biblical principle of establishing every matter by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Paul is invoking the Old Testament legal principle requiring two or three witnesses to establish a matter. By mentioning his third visit, Paul signals that his previous warnings now carry the weight of confirmed testimony, giving his coming rebuke full judicial authority.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees Paul's "third time" as evidence of an unrecorded visit between Acts 18 and Acts 20. The "two or three witnesses" quote from Deuteronomy means Paul will judge only on proper evidence, not by immediate revelation. He reads the witnesses as Paul's own visits that confirm the facts against the offenders.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Paul proceeded with caution, giving repeated warnings through his first and second epistles before using severity. He interprets the two or three witnesses as these letters, not the Mosaic law, following Christ's pattern of admonishing a brother twice before proceeding to extreme measures.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights a disputed point in this verse: whether Paul actually visited Corinth three times or only twice with a third planned journey. He sides with Alford, arguing that the natural reading is a real third visit, and that only chronological theories led some to interpret it as Paul's third intention to come.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that Paul's phrase "this third time" counts two earlier occasions when the apostle had intended to come but did not actually arrive. The emphasis falls on purpose and plan rather than physical travel, showing that Paul viewed his earlier resolved intentions as genuine comings even though circumstances prevented them.