2 Corinthians 12:20

20 for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I -- I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

2 Corinthians 12:20 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:20

For I fear lest when I come
This fear arose from his fatherly affection for them, and care of them:

I shall not find you such as I would;
truly penitent for former sins, thoroughly reformed in life and manners, zealous for God, Christ, and the Gospel, and hearty lovers of one another:

and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not;
sharp in his reproofs and admonitions, severe in his corrections and censures, and lawfully using the authority he had from Christ, to punish incorrigible offenders:

lest there be debates;
or "strifes", or contentions among them, about words to no profit, or about their ministers, as before; one being for Paul, and another for Apollos, and another for Cephas:

envyings:
at each other's gifts, or "jealousies" of one another, and evil surmisings:

wraths;
breaking out into words and actions, which discover hatred of mind, a malignant spirit, quite contrary to that of the Gospel:

strifes:
law suits before heathen magistrates; contentions in the church who shall be greatest; or about lesser matters of religion, or things indifferent, vain, and trifling, and kept up merely for the sake of victory:

backbitings;
speaking evil of one another, detracting from, hurting, or taking away each other's character and good name:

whisperings;
secretly sowing discords among friends, and privately suggesting evil things of each other:

swellings;
with pride and conceit of themselves, because of their riches, learning, and eloquence, and looking with disdain upon others:

tumults;
at church meetings, interrupting one another, going into parties, and making rents and schisms.

2 Corinthians 12:20 In-Context

18 I entreated Titus, and did send with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? -- did we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building,

20 for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I -- I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

21 lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.