2 Corinthians 13:2 Meaning and Explanation
“I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul gives advance warning, as if already there, that on his arrival he will not spare those who persist in unrepentant sin.
What Does 2 Corinthians 13:2 Mean?
Writing from a distance, Paul speaks as though he stood among them, repeating a warning he gave on his last visit. His words reach especially toward those who have continued in sin, and toward everyone else as well, so that none can claim surprise when he comes.
This is the patience of love that warns before it acts. Paul would rather a letter pierce the conscience now than a confrontation wound later. God deals with His children the same way, sending word ahead, giving time to turn, so that the day of reckoning finds hearts already softened. The warning itself is a mercy, an open door to repentance before the visit arrives.
2 Corinthians 13:2 in the Original Language
pheidomai (φείδομαι), 'to spare' -- to hold back or refrain from punishing, here a restraint Paul warns he will no longer exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 13:2
What does 2 Corinthians 13:2 mean?
Paul gives advance warning, as if already there, that on his arrival he will not spare those who persist in unrepentant sin.