2 Korintus 1:23

Why Paul Postponed His Visit

1:23 Now I appeal to God as my witness, ¹  that to spare ²  you I did not come again to Corinth. ³ 

2 Korintus 2:1

2:1 So ⁴  I made up my own mind ⁵  not to pay you another painful visit. ⁶ 

2 Korintus 13:2

13:2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, ⁷ 

2 Korintus 13:10

13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive ⁸  I may not have to deal harshly with you ⁹  by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

[1:23]  ¹ tn Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).

[1:23]  ² tn Here φειδόμενος (feidomeno") has been translated as a telic participle.

[1:23]  ³ sn Paul had promised to come again to visit (see 2 Cor 1:15, 24) but explains here why he had changed his plans.

[1:23]  map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[2:1]  ⁴ tc Although usually δέ (de, “now”; found in א A C D¹ F G Ψ 0285 Ï lat) should take precedent over γάρ (gar) in textually disputed places in the corpus Paulinum, the credentials for γάρ here are not easily dismissed (Ì⁴⁶ B 0223 0243 33 1739 1881 al); here it is the preferred reading, albeit slightly.

[2:1]  ⁵ tn Or “I decided this for myself.”

[2:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “not to come to you again in sorrow.”

[2:1]  sn Paul was not speaking absolutely about not making another visit, but meant he did not want to come to the Corinthians again until the conflict he mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4-11 was settled.

[13:2]  ⁷ tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[13:10]  ⁸ tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”

[13:10]  ⁹ tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.