2Cor 13:2-3 | 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 13:2-3

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 Verse 3. Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me. See Barnes on previous chapters. They had called in question his apostolic authority; they had demanded the evidence of his Divine commission. He says that he would now furnish such evidence by inflicting just punishment on all offenders, and they should have abundant proof that Christ spoke by him, or that he was inspired.

Which to you-ward is not weak. Or who, that is, Christ, is not weak, etc. Christ has manifested his power abundantly towards you, that is, either by the miracles that had been wrought in his name; or by the diseases and calamities which they had suffered on account of their disorders and offences, 1Cor 11:30; 1Cor 5:1; and following, or by the force and efficacy of his doctrine. The connexion, it seems to me, requires that we should understand it of the calamities which had been inflicted by Christ on them for their sins, and which Paul says would be inflicted again if they did not repent. The idea is, that they had had ample demonstration of the power of Christ to inflict punishment, and they had reason to apprehend it again.

(*) "you-ward" "towards you" (f) "mighty in you" 1Cor 9:2