2 Corinthians 12 21

2 Corinthians 12:21 kjv

And 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.

2 Corinthians 12:21 nkjv

lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

2 Corinthians 12:21 niv

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

2 Corinthians 12:21 esv

I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

2 Corinthians 12:21 nlt

Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.

2 Corinthians 12 verses

2 Corinthians 12 21 Meaning

In 2 Corinthians 12:21, the Apostle Paul expresses a deep and painful concern about the spiritual state of the Corinthian believers as he anticipates his third visit. He fears that upon his arrival, God might allow him to be humbled or shamed before them, compelled to mourn over the many among them who have persisted in various forms of immorality—specifically uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness—without genuine repentance. This verse reveals Paul's profound pastoral heart, his commitment to the purity of the church, and the gravity with which he views unrepentant sin, signifying potential judgment or necessary disciplinary action to be carried out upon his arrival.

2 Corinthians 12 21 Context

Verse Context: 2 Corinthians 12:21 follows immediately after Paul's reflections on his "thorn in the flesh" and the sufficiency of God's grace (12:7-10), and his defense of his apostleship, particularly his signs and wonders among them (12:11-13). It precedes his firm resolve to visit them a third time without being a burden and his expression of profound parental love for them (12:14-18), even as he fears some have caused divisions and fallen into sin. This verse marks the culmination of Paul's personal vulnerability and pastoral burden. He speaks not for his own gain but out of deep concern for their spiritual well-being, emphasizing his desire to present them holy to Christ.

Chapter Context (2 Corinthians 12): This chapter sees Paul defend his apostolic authority (often perceived by the Corinthians as weak due to his suffering) by recounting extraordinary spiritual experiences—being caught up to the third heaven. Paradoxically, to prevent him from exalting himself, God gave him a "thorn in the flesh," demonstrating that God's power is made perfect in weakness. He then transitions from his own spiritual state to his grave concerns about the Corinthians, specifically their moral failings and lack of repentance, leading directly to the powerful statement in verse 21. His fears here contrast sharply with his willingness to boast "in the Lord" and rely on God's strength.

Historical/Cultural Context: Corinth was a major cosmopolitan Roman city known for its wealth, trade, and unfortunately, its rampant immorality and syncretism with various pagan cults. The city's prominent temple of Aphrodite, known for its temple prostitutes, epitomized the prevalence of sexual vice. Converts to Christianity from such an environment faced constant temptation to revert to their former lifestyles. Paul's letters frequently address specific pagan behaviors, especially sexual immorality (πορνεία), idolatry, and factionalism, indicating these issues were deeply entrenched within the church. The church at Corinth had a reputation for pride, divisions, and a tolerance of sin that troubled Paul deeply, leading him to confront these issues directly to preserve the purity and witness of the body of Christ. His language (uncleanness, fornication, lasciviousness) directly challenges the prevailing ethical laxity common in the pagan culture from which many believers came.

2 Corinthians 12 21 Word analysis

• Lest (μὴ πάλιν - mē palin): A strong expression of fear and concern, indicating the undesired outcome Paul hopes to prevent. Mē denotes negation, palin means "again" or "once more," anticipating his return and the potential for a repeat of sorrowful experiences.
• When I come again (ἐλθόντος μου πάλιν - elthontos mou palin): Refers to his anticipated third visit (cf. 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1). Paul clearly means to make this visit, making the warning imminent and serious.
• my God (ὁ Θεός μου - ho Theos mou): Paul emphasizes a personal relationship with God. This God, who allowed the thorn in Paul's flesh to keep him humble (12:7), is the same God who might "humble" Paul before the Corinthians. It stresses divine agency in the impending situation, not merely Paul's emotional reaction.
• will humble me (ταπεινώσῃ με - tapeinōsē me): Tapeinōsē (from tapeinoō) means to humble, abase, or bring low. It implies being shamed, put in an embarrassing or sorrowful position. For Paul, this humbling would come not from his own weakness, but from having to confront and take action against unrepentant sin among those he loved. It highlights the pain and spiritual burden on an apostle forced to execute judgment rather than rejoice over growth.
• before you (ἔμπροσθεν ὑμῶν - emprosthen hymōn): Specifies that this "humbling" would be public and in their presence, making the situation deeply painful for both Paul and potentially the unrepentant members. It underlines his profound desire for the Corinthian church to be healthy, vibrant, and unified, not an assembly necessitating severe pastoral action.
• and I shall mourn (καὶ πενθήσω - kai penthēsō): Penthēsō (from pentheō) means to grieve, lament, or be sorrowful. It indicates a profound, personal, and deep-seated grief, akin to mourning the dead. This is a sorrow rooted in love, for the spiritual demise and judgment hanging over the unrepentant believers. It’s not an act of self-pity but of profound empathy and apostolic agony.
• for many of them (ἐπὶ πολλοῖς τῶν - epi pollois tōn): Suggests that the problem of unrepentant sin was not isolated to a few individuals but was widespread within the church community, indicating a serious corporate spiritual ailment.
• which have sinned already (προημαρτηκότων - proēmartēkotōn): This perfect participle indicates that these individuals had sinned in the past and remained in a state of unrepentant sin. Their actions were not isolated mistakes but a persistent lifestyle or failure to truly turn from wrongdoing. It implies an entrenched spiritual condition prior to his arrival.
• and have not repented (καὶ μὴ μετανοησάντων - kai mē metanoēsantōn): Metanoēsantōn (from metanoeō) means to change one's mind, to think differently afterward, with the implication of regret, remorse, and a change of direction, often expressed in behavior. The negative "mē" ("not") makes it clear this repentance was genuinely lacking. This is the crucial point—it’s not the sin itself but the failure to repent that causes Paul’s sorrow and necessitates intervention. True repentance is more than just feeling sorry; it involves a turning away from the sin.
• of the uncleanness (τῆς ἀκαθαρσίᾳ - tēs akatharsia): Akatharsia denotes moral impurity, defilement, often associated with sexual sin, but can also extend to other forms of moral filth and spiritual defilement. It describes a general state of moral uncleanliness, particularly in thought and deed, as opposed to ceremonial impurity.
• and fornication (καὶ πορνείᾳ - kai porneia): Porneia is a broad term for sexual immorality, encompassing prostitution, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and bestiality—any sexual activity outside of the boundaries of a monogamous, heterosexual marriage covenant ordained by God. It was prevalent in Corinthian society and a recurring issue in the early church.
• and lasciviousness (καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ - kai aselgeia): Aselgeia means licentiousness, sensuality, unrestrained indulgence, especially of sexual appetites. It denotes a brazen, shameless disregard for public decency, social propriety, and God's law, characterized by flagrant indulgence in vice with open contempt for restraint or public opinion. It signifies utter shamelessness and a complete lack of moral boundaries.
• which they have committed (ἧς ἔπραξαν - hēs epraxan): This clearly states that these acts were not mere intentions or accusations, but committed actions, making the call for repentance tangible and urgent. The verb praxis often implies intentional or habitual action, not accidental mistakes.

2 Corinthians 12 21 Bonus section

The intense emotional language Paul uses here reflects his deeply personal connection to the Corinthians, whom he considered his spiritual children (1 Cor 4:15). His "mourning" isn't merely a sorrow of the moment but an expression of profound distress that his spiritual labor among them seems to have been in vain for some. This apostolic anguish is a biblical example of godly sorrow, distinct from worldly sorrow, for it is motivated by love for God's honor and the spiritual welfare of others. It also provides insight into the cost of true spiritual leadership, which must confront sin head-on, even when painful for all involved. The specific mention of "uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness" being committed before Paul's arrival, yet after his previous teachings and the impact of his "severe letter" (2 Cor 7:8), indicates a deliberate and persistent resistance to conviction among a segment of the church. This posed a serious challenge to the church's integrity and demanded resolute action from the apostle upon his arrival.

2 Corinthians 12 21 Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:21 provides a profound glimpse into the heart of the Apostle Paul, revealing his deeply pastoral anguish over the spiritual health of the Corinthian church. His concern is twofold: first, for his own potential humbling and sorrow if forced to address unrepentant sin publicly, and second, and more significantly, for the souls of those persisting in sin. The phrase "my God will humble me before you" doesn't suggest God shames Paul arbitrarily. Rather, it means Paul will experience profound spiritual pain and difficulty in carrying out God's corrective discipline, which, though necessary, is grievous to a loving shepherd. His mourning ("penthēsō") is a lament not only over their sin but over their stubborn refusal to turn from it, indicating a deep, almost familial grief.

The specific sins—uncleanness (akatharsia), fornication (porneia), and lasciviousness (aselgeia)—were deeply embedded in Corinthian culture and repeatedly addressed by Paul (1 Cor 5, 6; 2 Cor 7). Akatharsia points to general moral impurity, porneia to various sexual sins, and aselgeia highlights the shameless, blatant nature of their indulgence. The critical point is "have not repented" (mē metanoēsantōn). Paul's prior letters and visits had called for repentance (2 Cor 7:8-10). The continued unrepentance of "many" indicates a deep-seated spiritual malaise that threatened the entire church's purity and witness. This verse underlines the vital necessity of ongoing, genuine repentance in the Christian life. For Paul, dealing with such unrepentant sin required painful, but essential, church discipline, rooted in love and a desire for restoration, echoing Jesus' call in Matt 18:15-17. It serves as a stark reminder that while grace abounds for forgiveness, it does not countenance an ongoing, unrepentant embrace of sin within the believing community.