2 Corinthians 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 9:4; 2 Corinthians 11:4; 2 Corinthians 11:9; 2 Corinthians 12:1; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; 2 Corinthians 13:1-2 (New American Standard)

15 In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing ; 16 that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. 23 But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.

Reaffirm Your Love

1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. 3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice ; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. 12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, 5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. 4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-not to speak of you-will be put to shame by this confidence. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone ; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

Paul's Vision

1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable ; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish ; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances ; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

Examine Yourselves

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,