2 Corinthians 12:20

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church while preparing for a third visit, immediately after clarifying that his previous correspondence was meant to build them up rather than defend himself.

The words — φοβοῦμαι (phoboumai) literally means "I fear," establishing the apostle's anxiety about the upcoming encounter. γὰρ (gar) translates as "for," linking this dread directly to his stated pastoral purpose in the preceding verse.

The thread — The catalog of vices parallels the fleshly acts listed in Galatians 5:19 and the command to discard malice and slander in 1 Peter 2:1. The fear of unrepentant impurity and debauchery directly continues the warning issued in 2 Corinthians 12:21.

Why it lands — The text explicitly warns that relational sins like quarreling, jealousy, and arrogance will corrupt both the church and the apostle's ministry. It requires readers to audit their own conduct and attitudes before any spiritual gathering or confrontation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
1 Peter 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
Romans 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
1 Corinthians 1:11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Galatians 5:15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
Jude 1:16 These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
James 4:1 What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
Psalms 41:7 All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me:
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?