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2 Corinthians 12:20

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

2 Corinthians 12:20 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:20

Theological / Devotional

I fear. Paul does not exercise his apostolic authority as if he were a prince over the church, but speaks in a fatherly way, listing the sins that have distracted and divided the Corinthian church.

Debates. Or, “contentions,” “strifes,” “wranglings” (cf. 1 Cor. 1:11; 3:3; 1 Tim. 6:4).

Envyings. Or, “jealousies,” “rivalries” (cf. Acts 17:5; 1 Cor. 3:3; James 3:14, 16).

Wraths. Or, “[outbursts of] anger” (cf. Luke 4:28; Acts 19:28).

Strifes. Such things as putting oneself forward, the manifestation of a partisan and factious spirit, and intriguing for office are here specified (cf. Phil. 2:3; James 3:14, 16).

Backbitings. Or, “defamation,” “evil speaking,” “open slander” (cf. James 4:11; 1 Peter 2:1).

Whisperings. Or, “secret slander,” “gossip.” In classical Greek and the LXX the word thus translated denotes the magical murmuring of a snake charmer (Eccl. 10:11).

Swellings. Or, “pride,” “conceit,” “loftiness.” This was one of the most prominent sins of certain Corinthians (1 Cor. 4:6, 18, 19 ; 5:2; cf. chs. 8:1; 13:4).

Tumults. Or, “instability,” “disorder,” “confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33; 2 Cor. 6:5; James 3:16).

By SdaBc