2 Corinthians 12:21

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 their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church as he anticipates an upcoming visit following a prior warning and a previous journey. The words — μὴ (mē) = lest, and πάλιν (palin) = again, frame the warning that God may humble him before the church when he returns. The thread — The fear of unrepentant impurity and sexual immorality connects to his earlier warnings in 1 Corinthians 5:1 and 1 Corinthians 5:9, and his upcoming third visit where he will reiterate this warning as noted in 2 Corinthians 13:2. Why it lands — The text states that God will humble Paul and grieve him over unrepented sexual immorality and debauchery, requiring readers to confront hidden sin immediately rather than delay repentance until divine correction arrives.

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

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.

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 13:2 I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
1 Peter 4:2 Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
Revelation 21:8 But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Jude 1:7 In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.
Jude 1:23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.