2 Corinthians 12:19--13:10

12:19 Have you been thinking all this time ¹  that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. ²  12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me ³  not what you wish. I am afraid that ⁴  somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, ⁵  slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 12:21 I am afraid that ⁶  when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for ⁷  many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.

Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth

13:1 This is the third time I am coming to visit ⁸  you. By the testimony ⁹  of two or three witnesses every matter will be established. ¹⁰  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, ¹¹  13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He ¹²  is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. 13:4 For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you. 13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! ¹³  13:6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test! ¹⁴  13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, ¹⁵  but so that you may do what is right ¹⁶  even if we may appear to have failed the test. ¹⁷  13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. 13:9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. ¹⁸  13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive ¹⁹  I may not have to deal harshly with you ²⁰  by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

[12:19]  ¹ tc The reading “all this time” (πάλαι, palai) is found in several early and important Alexandrian and Western witnesses including א* A B F G 0243 6 33 81 365 1175 1739 1881 lat; the reading πάλιν (palin, “again”) is read by א² D Ψ 0278 Ï sy bo; the reading οὐ πάλαι (ou palai) is read by Ì⁴⁶, making the question even more emphatic. The reading of Ì⁴⁶ could only have arisen from πάλαι. The reading πάλιν is significantly easier (“are you once again thinking that we are defending ourselves?”), for it softens Paul’s tone considerably. It thus seems to be a motivated reading and cannot easily explain the rise of πάλαι. Further, πάλαι has considerable support in the Alexandrian and Western witnesses, rendering it virtually certain as the original wording here.

[12:19]  ² tn Or “for your strengthening”; Grk “for your edification.”

[12:20]  ³ tn Grk “and I will be found by you.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation.

[12:20]  ⁴ tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text, but are needed for clarity.

[12:20]  ⁵ tn Or “intense anger, hostility.”

[12:21]  ⁶ tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text from v. 20, but are needed for clarity.

[12:21]  ⁷ tn Or “I will mourn over.”

[13:1]  ⁸ tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

[13:1]  ⁹ tn Grk “By the mouth.”

[13:1]  ¹⁰ sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).

[13:2]  ¹¹ tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[13:3]  ¹² tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[13:5]  ¹³ tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”

[13:6]  ¹⁴ tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”

[13:7]  ¹⁵ tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”

[13:7]  ¹⁶ tn Or “what is good.”

[13:7]  ¹⁷ tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”

[13:9]  ¹⁸ tn Or “fully equipped.”

[13:10]  ¹⁹ 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]  ²⁰ tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.