Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 13:2

νῦν (אABDFG, Latt.) rather than νῦν γράφω (D3KLP, Syrr. Arm. Goth., Chrys.) or νῦν λέγω (Copt. Aeth.). Vulg. reads ut praesens, et nunc absens, ignoring τὸ δεύτερον. Some old Latin texts have ut praesens, bis: bis was corrupted into vobis, and then vobis was struck out as without authority.

2. προείρηκα καὶ προλέγω ὡς παρὼν τὸ δεύτερον καὶ�. I have said before, and I do say before, as when I was present the second time, so now being absent. ‘When I was present the second time I gave a warning which still stands (comp. εἴρηκεν in 2 Corinthians 12:9), and now that I am absent I repeat the warning’: but S. Paul changes the natural order of the clauses in order to gain emphasis by putting the two warnings together, and his presence and absence together. See critical note. As in 2 Corinthians 11:8, παρών is imperf. part. The balance between προείρηκα and προλέγω, between παρών and ἀπών, and between τὸ δεύτερον and νῦν is manifest; and to destroy this by taking τὸ δεύτερον with καὶ� is perverse ingenuity. Comp. Dixi equidem et dico (Hor. Sat. II. v. 23).

τοῖς προημαρτηκόσιν καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πᾶσιν. To those who were in sin before (2 Corinthians 12:21) and to all the rest. Those who deny the second visit have to make the προ- mean ‘before their conversion.’ ‘Before the Apostle’s second visit’ is the meaning; and ‘all the rest’ covers those who have fallen into sin since that visit. Note once more his fondness for repeating words compounded with the same preposition, especially πρό: comp. 2 Corinthians 9:5; Romans 8:29; Galatians 5:21; 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 5:24; 2 Timothy 3:4; κατά, 2 Corinthians 11:20; παρά, Philippians 2:1.

ἐὰν ἔλθω εἰς τὸ πάλιν οὐ φείσομαι. If I come again, I will not spare. He does not mean that he is hesitating about coming, but that this time his coming will be accompanied by severity. Comp. ἐὰν ἔλθῃ Τιμόθεος (1 Corinthians 16:10). In both cases what possibly might be prevented is stated hypothetically, the important point being what is to take place when the coming is a fact. As we have seen (2 Corinthians 12:18) Timothy seems to have been prevented. Beyond doubt, εἰς τὸ πἀλιν is to be taken with ἔλθω, not with οὐ φείσομαι. The combination appears to occur nowhere else; but comp. ἐς τὸ ὕστερον (Thuc. II. xx. 4), εἰς τέλος, εἰς ὀψέ, κ.τ.λ.

οὐ φείσομαι. This threat seems to be plainly referred to in 2 Corinthians 1:23 (see note there), where he states that, in order to spare them, he did not come earlier to Corinth. If so, this passage was written before that. What follows is closely connected with οὐ φείσομαι, and only a comma should be placed at the end of 2 Corinthians 13:2.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 13:2

Old Testament

New Testament