2 Corinthians 12:21
What does 2 Corinthians 12:21 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 12:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 12:21 means
Paul adds a more painful fear: that God will humble him before them by forcing him to mourn over many who have sinned in the past and have not repented of “uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness.” He dreads discovering entrenched, unrepentant sexual immorality in the congregation. Such grief would not be wounded pride but pastoral sorrow before God. The path forward is repentance. Paul’s authority is exercised with tears, not triumphalism. He wants joy at their holiness, not mourning over their hardness. The verse closes the chapter with a call to examine hearts, turn from sin, and meet the apostle with the fruit of godly sorrow.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And that when I come again, my God may put me to shame among you, and I may have grief for those who have done wrong before and have had no regret for their unclean ways, and for the evil desires of the flesh to which they have given way.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before and have not done penance for the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness that they have committed.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890lest myGod should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.
Context
This final note sharpens the general concerns of verse 20 by highlighting sexual sins and the necessity of repentance. It looks ahead to Paul’s impending visit and the disciplinary issues he may have to address. Wrapping up the chapter, it ties back to the opening themes: authentic ministry is not about boasting in visions but about humility under God, grace in weakness, sacrificial love, and courageous truth-telling. The stakes of apostolic authority are pastoral and moral—restoring the church to purity and unity in Christ before the face of God.
v.20For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
v.21This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 10:6
and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
- 1 Corinthians 6:15
Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.
- Romans 13:13
Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.
- Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
- Romans 9:2
that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2
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;
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