2Cor 13:2, 10 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 2. I told you before . That I would not spare offenders; that I would certainly punish them. He had intimated this before in the first epistle, . And foretell you . Now apprize you of my fixed determination to punish every offender as he deserves. As if I were present, the second time . The mention of the "second time" here proves that Paul had been with them but once before. He had formed the resolution to go to them, but had been disappointed. The time when he had been with them is recorded in , seq. He now uses the same language to them which he says he would use if he were with them, as he had expected to be, the second time. See the remarks of Paley on this passage, referred to above. And being absent . . To them which heretofore have sinned . To all the offenders in the church. They had supposed that he would not come to them, , or that if he came he would not dare to inflict punishment, . They had, therefore, given themselves greater liberty, and had pursued their own course, regardless of his authority and commands. I will not spare . I will punish them. They shall not escape. (e) "which heretofore"

2 Corinthians 13:2

Verse 2. I told you before. That I would not spare offenders; that I would certainly punish them. He had intimated this before in the first epistle, 1Cor 4:21, 1Cor 5.

And foretell you. Now apprize you of my fixed determination to punish every offender as he deserves.

As if I were present, the second time. The mention of the "second time" here proves that Paul had been with them but once before. He had formed the resolution to go to them, but had been disappointed. The time when he had been with them is recorded in Acts 18:1, seq. He now uses the same language to them which he says he would use if he were with them, as he had expected to be, the second time. See the remarks of Paley on this passage, referred to above.

And being absent. 1Cor 5:3.

To them which heretofore have sinned. To all the offenders in the church. They had supposed that he would not come to them, 1Cor 4:18, or that if he came he would not dare to inflict punishment, 2Cor 10:9-11. They had, therefore, given themselves greater liberty, and had pursued their own course, regardless of his authority and commands.

I will not spare. I will punish them. They shall not escape.

(e) "which heretofore" 2Cor 12:21

2 Corinthians 13:10

Verse 10. Therefore I write these things, etc. This is a kind of apology for what he had said, and especially for the apparently harsh language which he had felt himself constrained to use. He had reproved them; he had admonished them of their faults; he had threatened punishment, all of which was designed to prevent the necessity of severe measures when he should be with them.

Lest being present I should use sharpness. In order that when I come may not have occasion to employ severity. See the sentiment explained in 2Cor 10:2.

According to the power, etc. That I may not use the power with which Christ has invested me for maintaining discipline in his church. The same form of expression is found in 2Cor 10:8. 2Cor 10:8.

(c) "sharpness according" Tit 1:13 (d) "to the power" 2Cor 10:8 (+) "to destruction" "for destruction" (++) "to edification" "for edification"