2 Corinthians 12:20

Lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would (mh pw elqwn ouc oiou qelw eurw uma). An idiomatic construction after the verb of fearing (poboumai) with mh pw as the conjunction and with ouc as the negative of the verb eurw (second aorist active subjunctive of euriskw), mh the conjunction, ouc the negative. See Robertson, Grammar, p. 995. And I be found (kagw eureqw). Same construction with first aorist passive subjunctive. Such as ye would not (oion ou qelete). Neat change in voice just before and position of the negative here. Lest by any means (mh pw). Still further negative purpose by repeating the conjunction. With graphic pen pictures Paul describes what had been going on against him during his long absence. Backbitings (katalaliai). Late and rare word. In N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:1 . If it only existed nowhere else! Whisperings (psiqurismoi). Late word from psiqurizw, to whisper into one's ear. An onomatopoetic word for the sibilant murmur of a snake charmer ( Ecclesiastes 10:11 ). Only here in N.T. Swellings (pusiwsei). From pusiow, to swell up, late word only here and in ecclesiastical writers. Did Paul make up the word for the occasion? See on "1Co 4:6" for verb. Tumults (akatastasiai). See on "2Co 6:5".