II Corinthians 13:2 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 13:2 Commentary: Paul's Warning
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study on 2 Corinthians 13:2, exploring Paul's previous visits, the meaning of 'I will not spare,' and the pastoral heart behind apostolic discipline.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul repeats his previous warning that unrepentant sin will be met with apostolic discipline when he arrives.
- Key words: proeirēka (perfect tense: prior warning) / prolegō (present: current repetition) / pheidomai (to spare, used negatively).
- Main debate: Whether Paul had already made a second visit to Corinth (unrecorded in Acts) or only one visit before writing 2 Corinthians.
- Theological theme: Apostolic authority, church discipline, and the patience of God before judgment.
- Best use: A model for pastoral warning and discipline, emphasizing grace before consequences.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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,
WEB World English Bible 2000
I have warned previously, and I warn again, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now and to all the rest that if I come again, I will not spare,
KJV King James Version 1769
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
I have said before, and I say it before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
I have told before and foretell, as present and now absent, to them that sinned before and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
He dicho antes, y ahora digo otra vez como presente, y ahora ausente lo escribo á los que antes pecaron, y á todos los demás, que si voy otra|strong="G1519, G3825" vez, no perdonaré;
Eu já tinha dito antes, e disse quando estive presente pela segunda vez, e agora ausente o escrevo aos que pecaram anteriormente, e a todos os demais, que se vier outra vez, não lhes serei tolerante;
Lorsque j’ étais présent pour la seconde fois, j’ ai déjà dit, et aujourd’ hui que je suis absent je dis encore d’ avance à ceux qui ont péché précédemment et à tous les autres que, si je retourne chez vous, je n’userai d’ aucun ménagement,
Ich habe es euch zuvor gesagt und sage es euch zuvor, wie, als ich zum andernmal gegenwärtig war, so auch nun abwesend schreibe ich es denen, die zuvor gesündigt haben, und den andern allen: Wenn ich abermals komme, so will ich nicht schonen;
Ik heb het te voren gezegd, en zeg het te voren als tegenwoordig zijnde de tweede maal, en ik schrijf het nu afwezende aan degenen, die te voren gezondigd hebben, en aan al de anderen, dat, zo ik wederom kom, ik hen niet zal sparen;
Ho avvertito quand’ero presente fra voi la seconda volta, e avverto, ora che sono assente, tanto quelli che hanno peccato per l’innanzi, quanto tutti gli altri, che, se tornerò da voi, non userò indulgenza;
Powiedziałem przedtem i znowu powiadam jako powtóre obecny, a teraz nie będąc obecny piszę tym, którzy przedtem grzeszyli i wszystkim inszym, że jeźli znowu przyjdę, nie przepuszczę im.
Я предварял и предваряю, как бы находясь у вас во второй раз, и теперь, отсутствуя, пишу прежде согрешившим и всем прочим, что, когда опять приду, не пощажу.
我從前說過， 如今 不在 你們那裡又 說，正如 我第二次 見你們的時候所說的一樣，就是對那犯了罪 的和 其餘的 人說：「我若 再 來，必不 寬容。」
I said before, and still say it before I come, as being present for the second time, though I am still away from you, to those who have done wrong before, and to all the others, that if I come again I will not have pity;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 13:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Paul is issuing a solemn, repeated warning to the Corinthian church. The verb tenses carry weight: proeirēka (I have said beforehand, perfect tense) marks a past declaration, while prolegō (I say beforehand, present tense) makes the warning current. Barnes and Clarke connect this to Paul's earlier question in 1 Corinthians 4:21: “Shall I come to you with a rod?” The shared judgment is that Paul intends to exercise his apostolic authority to discipline those who remain in unrepentant sin. The repeated warnings are read as a gracious interval for repentance rather than a mere threat. Where commentators diverge is on whether Paul had already visited Corinth a second time, unrecorded in Acts (see discussion below), but all agree that the “not spare” language is a clear boundary, Paul's patience has limits, and persistent sin will be confronted when he arrives. The pastoral heart beneath the stern words is confirmed by 2 Corinthians 10:8, where Paul says the Lord gave his authority “for building you up and not for casting you down.”
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Second visit occurred (Calmet, Cambridge, JFB, Vincent): The phrase 'as when I was present the second time' is taken as a historical reference, supported by Paul's comment in 2 Cor 12:14 ('I am ready to come to you this third time') and his earlier painful visit implied in 2 Cor 2:1.
- Only one visit before this letter (Clarke, Barnes, Gill): Acts records only Paul's initial visit (Acts 18); the 'second time' is interpreted as a hypothetical present tense ('as if I were present the second time'), consistent with Paul's pattern of writing as if present (1 Cor 5:3).
- 'Not spare' as miraculous punishment (Clarke, Gill): Paul's earlier action against the incestuous man (1 Cor 5:5) and his question 'Shall I come with a rod?' (1 Cor 4:21) suggest supernatural power to inflict bodily judgment.
- 'Not spare' as formal excommunication (Barnes, Calvin): The context of church discipline and the purpose of building up (2 Cor 13:10) point to ecclesiastical censure, not miraculous affliction.
What is clear: Paul is threatening to use his God-given apostolic authority to discipline unrepentant sinners when he arrives, after giving repeated warnings.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Paul's previous visits to Corinth | Paul had visited Corinth at least once (Acts 18) and was planning a third visit (2 Cor 13:1). | Some scholars (Calmet, Cambridge Bible, JFB, Vincent) argue that Paul had made a second, unrecorded visit. Others (Clarke, Barnes, Gill) hold that only one visit had occurred, and 'the second time' refers to a future coming or is rhetorical. |
| Meaning of 'I will not spare' | The phrase indicates that Paul will use his apostolic authority to discipline unrepentant sinners when he arrives. | Clarke and Gill see it as reference to miraculous punishment (as in 1 Cor 5:5). Barnes and others interpret it as formal church discipline (excommunication or public rebuke), not supernatural action. |
| Identity of 'those who have sinned before now' and 'all the rest' | Paul addresses both those already known for sin (cf. 2 Cor 12:21) and the whole church as a warning. | Some commentators (Wesley, Gill) think 'the rest' refers to those who have sinned since Paul's second visit or are in danger of sinning; others (Barnes) see it as a general warning to all who might follow the offenders. |
| Nature of the third coming | Paul intends a third visit, which will be decisive if repentance has not occurred. | The precise timing is unclear, some think it refers to the journey from Macedonia to Corinth that actually happened; others see it as a conditional plan (subject to the Lord's will, as implied by the conditional εαν). |
| Relevance of 'second time' to Paul's authority | The phrase 'the second time' relates to Paul's earlier interaction with the church and strengthens the weight of his warning. | If a real past visit, it shows Paul has already confronted them in person. If hypothetical, it underscores his consistency: he writes as he would speak. Both readings affirm his resolve. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul's relationship with the Corinthian church had been turbulent. He founded the church during an eighteen-month stay recorded in Acts 18:1, 18, then corresponded with them (including the lost letter mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9) and wrote 1 Corinthians to address factions, sexual immorality, and disorder. After that, tensions escalated. False apostles challenged Paul's authority, and he made a painful interim visit to Corinth that he calls a “second time” in this verse, though Acts does not record it. The Cambridge Bible and JFB, along with Calvin and Vincent, accept that this second visit occurred (about AD 55), while Clarke, Barnes, and Gill argue for only one visit before the writing of 2 Corinthians. The question matters for reading the phrase “as when I was present the second time”: does Paul refer to a past visit or a hypothetical future one? Either way, his travel plans were delayed (2 Corinthians 1:23 says “to spare you I did not come to Corinth”), and his opponents mocked him as bold in letters but timid in person (2 Corinthians 10:1, 10:10). The church had tolerated serious sin, sexual immorality, divisions, and refusal to discipline, and Paul now writes from Macedonia (possibly Philippi, as Poole notes) to prepare them for his coming. The cultural expectation was that a patron or apostle had authority to correct erring members, but Paul consistently grounds his authority in Christ's power and uses it for restoration, not mere domination. This verse captures the tension between patience and accountability.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note a minor textual variant in verse 2. Some manuscripts include the word γράφω (graphō, “I write”) after νῦν (nun, “now”), while others omit it. Vincent's Word Studies observes that the shorter reading, supported by older witnesses, makes “being absent now” directly modify the preceding verb “I say beforehand” rather than introducing a new clause. The omission tightens the syntax: Paul says “so now being absent (I say beforehand) to them…” The difference does not change the essential meaning, but it removes the emphasis on writing as a distinct action. The reading adopted by most modern translations (including WEB) includes “I write,” which clarifies the medium of the warning.
Reception History
In church history, this verse has been a key text for the practice of church discipline and pastoral authority. Calvin used it to argue that severity is necessary when gentleness fails, noting that “excessive indulgence” is harmful. Matthew Henry saw in Paul's pattern a model for “first and second admonition” before proceeding to extreme measures, connecting it to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:15, 16. In Reformed and Puritan traditions, the phrase “I will not spare” was sometimes cited in debates about excommunication and the power of the keys. Baxter reportedly drew on Calvin's language in his apology for censuring ministers. More broadly, the verse has been read as pastoral, the warning itself is a mercy, giving time for repentance before the rod descends. The underlying hope is restoration, as Paul prays in the same chapter for the Corinthians' perfection (2 Cor 13:9).
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Paul's Pattern of Grace: He warns before he acts. Both the first and second warnings (2 Corinthians 13:1, 2) show that discipline is preceded by ample opportunity to repent.
- The Purpose of Discipline: Paul's authority was given for building up, not tearing down (2 Corinthians 10:8). His threat to “not spare” is a last resort to restore purity, not a desire to punish.
- The People Addressed: He writes to “those who have sinned before now and to all the rest”, the persistent offenders and the whole congregation who must know that Paul will act decisively.
Five-Point Outline
- The Past Warning: Paul had already threatened discipline in 1 Corinthians 4:21 (“Shall I come with a rod?”). That was the first witness.
- The Present Warning: This letter is the second witness, in line with the principle of Deuteronomy 19:15 that every charge must be established by two or three witnesses.
- The Future Visit: Paul announces a third coming (verse 1), which will be decisive if repentance has not occurred.
- The Penalty: “I will not spare” echoes the language of judgment in 1 Corinthians 5:5, where Paul delivered the incestuous man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.
- The Purpose: Restoration and unity, as the rest of the chapter emphasizes (examination, prayer for perfection, and the closing benediction).
Illustration Hooks
- Fire Drill Warnings: A school principal gives repeated instructions and drills before a real emergency. The repeated warnings are not threats but preparations, and if ignored, the consequences are swift.
- Parental Patience: A parent who says “if I have to come back in here, you will lose your phone” gives the child time to change behavior. The warning itself shows love, but the follow-through is necessary for trust.
- Church Discipline Process: Most churches follow a step of private warning, then a second step with a witness (Matthew 18:15, 16), before public action. Paul models that exact sequence here.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “Is Paul being harsh or loving in this verse? How do we reconcile his sternness with Jesus' gentleness?”
- “What does ‘I will not spare’ mean for church discipline today, do pastors have authority to punish, or is that different now?”
- “Did Paul actually visit Corinth before writing this letter, or is he talking about a future visit? How does that affect the meaning?”
Leading a Discussion
Paul's words are strong, but his repeated warnings show a shepherd who longs for his flock to turn before consequences fall. This passage asks us to consider how we respond to correction, and how we exercise authority in the church. Read 2 Corinthians 13:1, 4 alongside 1 Corinthians 4:21 and notice the pattern.
Discussion Questions
- What does Paul say he will do when he comes to Corinth? What does “I will not spare” mean in light of 2 Corinthians 10:8?
- Why does Paul repeat his warning so deliberately? What Old Testament principle does he cite in verse 1, and how does that shape the process?
- Paul distinguishes between “those who have sinned before now” and “all the rest.” Why does he address both groups? What does that tell us about the public nature of discipline?
- How does the debate about Paul's second visit affect your understanding of this verse? Does it matter whether the “second time” is past or future?
- In verse 3, Paul says the Corinthians are “seeking a proof of Christ who speaks in me.” How does that motive explain why he writes so firmly?
- What can we learn from Paul's example about giving warnings before taking disciplinary action in our church context?
- If you were a Corinthian who had not repented, how would this letter make you feel? How would it move you toward change?
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)
| I Corinthians 4:19 | But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. |
| I Corinthians 4:21 | What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? |
| I Corinthians 5:5 | you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. |
| II Corinthians 1:23 | But I call God for a witness to my soul, that to spare you, I didn’t come to Corinth. |
| II Corinthians 10:1 | Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. |
| II Corinthians 10:2 | Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. |
| II Corinthians 10:8 | For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed, |
| II Corinthians 10:11 | Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke rejects the view that Paul had already visited Corinth twice, insisting he had been there only once before. He interprets Paul's warning as a threat to use miraculous power to directly punish unrepentant offenders, as the apostle had previously done.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Paul's warning is not new but a firm restatement of what he had already threatened in his first letter. The mention of "the second time" proves Paul had visited Corinth only once before, and he now speaks as though already present, determined to punish repeat offenders.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that Paul had to switch from gentle warnings to stern threats because the Corinthians were unusually stubborn. A good parent knows when severity is needed, since excessive indulgence does more harm than good. Paul publicly named individuals only because their sins were already notorious and damaging to the whole church.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes Paul's double wording for emphasis: he has warned and warns again. The commentary also clarifies that Paul speaks as if present a second time, though actually absent, and that the phrase "being absent now" attaches to his absence, not to the next clause.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that Paul deliberately repeats his warning both in person and now in writing, so no one can claim they were not told. This is a deliberate, public threat of discipline: when Paul returns, he will not show leniency but will use his apostolic authority to act against those who continue in sin.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes Paul's pattern of three witnesses through a first and second admonition, now given again in writing as if present. The conditional "if I come again" shows Paul's submission to God's will, not uncertainty. Having exhausted gentle methods, Paul is resolved to use apostolic power and not spare.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that Paul is not threatening a future second visit but recalling what he already said when he was present the second time. Calling the same journey both the second and third coming would be inconsistent, so Paul's words refer to a past warning he now repeats for those who have sinned since.
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 focuses on how different English translations of this verse imply different views on whether Paul made a second visit. The Authorized Version suggests he is speaking as if present for a second time, while the Revised Version treats his words as referring distinctly to a past second visit and to his current absence.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that God's threat of judgment extends beyond the immediate offenders to everyone who later commits the same sins. He interprets "I will not spare" as a promise of severe punishment for all who persist in those wrongs, not a limited or temporary warning.