the Second Week after Easter
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Contemporary English Version
2 Corinthians 1:23
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.
Moreouer, I call God for a record vpon my soule, that to spare you I came not as yet vnto Corinth.
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.
But I call God as witness to my soul, that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.
I tell you this, and I ask God to be my witness that this is true: The reason I did not come back to Corinth was to keep you from being punished or hurt.
But I call on God as my soul's witness, that it was to spare you [pain and discouragement] that I did not come again to Corinth—
But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
I call God to witness — he knows what my life is like — that the reason I held back from coming to Corinth was out of consideration for you!
But I call God to witness upon my soul that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.
I tell you this, and I ask God to be my witness that this is true: The reason I did not come back to Corinth was that I did not want to punish or hurt you.
Nowe, I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you, I came not as yet vnto Corinthus.
Moreover I testify to God concerning myself, that it was because I wanted to spare you, that I did not come to Corinth.
I call God as my witness—he knows my heart! It was in order to spare you that I decided not to go to Corinth.
But I call upon God as witness against my life, that in order to spare you, I did not come again to Corinth.
And I call God as witness to my soul that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.
But God is my witness that it was in pity for you that I did not come to Corinth at that time.
But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you.
I call upon God as a witness on my behalf that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.Romans 1:9; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 2:3; 11:31; 12:20; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8;">[xr]
BUT I testify to Aloha on my soul that because I am sparing of you, I have not come to Kurinthos.
Moreover, I call God for a witness on my soul, that it was in order to spare you, that I came not to Corinth.
I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you I came not as yet vnto Corinthus.
But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.
But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you.
But I call God for a record on my soul, that to spare you, I came not as yet to Corinth.
But as for me, as my soul shall answer for it, I appeal to God as my witness, that it was to spare you pain that I gave up my visit to Corinth.
For Y clepide God to witnesse ayens my soule, that Y sparynge you cam not ouer to Corynthe;
But I call God for a witness on my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come to Corinth.
Moreover, I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I have not as yet come to Corinth.
Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn't return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.
I call on God to look into my heart. The reason I did not come to the city of Corinth was because I did not want my strong words to hurt you.
But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.
But, I, call upon God, as a witness, against my own soul, - that, to spare you, not yet, have I come unto Corinth:
But I call God to witness upon my soul that to spare you, I came not any more to Corinth: not because we exercise dominion over your faith:
But I call God to witness against me--it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth.
I call God for a recorde vnto my soule that forto faver you with all I came not enymoare vnto Corinthum.
And I for a witness on God do call upon my soul, that sparing you, I came not yet to Corinth;
Bvt I call God to recorde vnto my soule, that to fauoure you withall I came not agayne vnto Corinthum.
I call God to witness, and may I die if it is not true, that the reason of my not coming yet to Corinth, was to avoid using any severity towards you.
Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn't visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn't come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative.
Now, with God as my witness, I'm telling y'all that the reason I didn't come back to Corinth was to save y'all from a bad scoldin'.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I call: 2 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 11:11, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Romans 1:9, Romans 9:1, Galatians 1:20, Philippians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:5
that: 2 Corinthians 2:1 - 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 10:2, 2 Corinthians 10:6-11, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 2 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 13:10, 1 Corinthians 4:21, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Timothy 1:20
Reciprocal: Genesis 21:23 - swear Exodus 20:7 - take Numbers 30:2 - swear Ruth 3:13 - the Lord liveth Job 16:19 - my witness Acts 18:1 - Corinth Acts 20:26 - I take 1 Corinthians 4:19 - I 1 Corinthians 7:28 - but 2 Corinthians 11:10 - the truth
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul,.... The apostle having asserted his stability, both as a minister and a Christian, which, with others, he had from God, appeals to him in the most solemn manner, in full form of an oath, for the truth of what he was about to say; and is all one as if he had said, I swear by the living God, the searcher of all hearts; I call upon him to attest what I say, and bear witness to my soul, that it is true,
that to spare you, I came not as yet unto Corinth; however fickle, unstable, and inconstant, it may be insinuated to you I am, or you may take me to be, I do assure you in the name and presence of God, that the true reason of my not coming to you hitherto, since I gave you reason to expect me, was, that I might not be burdensome or chargeable to you; or I have delayed coming to you, hoping for a reformation among you, that when I do come, I may not come with a rod, and severely chastise you for the many disorders among you; that I might not use sharpness according to the power God has given me, in an extraordinary way, as an apostle, to punish for offences committed. Hence we learn, that an oath is a solemn appeal to God, and may be lawfully made in cases of moment and importance, as this of the apostle's was; whose character was traduced, and with which was connected the usefulness of his ministry; and it being an affair that could not be determined in any other way, and an oath being for confirmation, and to put an end to strife, he makes one in this serious and awful manner.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul - It is well remarked by Rosenmuller, that the second chapter should have commenced here, since there is here a transition in the subject more distinct than where the second chapter is actually made to begin. Here Tyndale commences the second chapter. This verse, with the subsequent statements, is designed to show them the true reason why he had changed his purpose, and had not visited them according to his first proposal. And that reason was not that he was fickle and inconstant; but it was that he apprehended that if he should go to them in their irregular and disorderly state, he would be under a necessity of resorting to harsh measures, and to a severity of discipline that would be alike painful to them and to him. Dr. Paley has shown with great plausibility, if not with moral certainty, that Paulâs change of purpose about visiting them was made before he wrote his First Epistle; that he had at first resolved to visit them, but that on subsequent reflection, he thought it would be better to try the effect of a faithful letter to them, admonishing them of their errors, and entreating them to exercise proper discipline themselves on the principal offender; that with this feeling he wrote his First Epistle, in which he does not state to them as yet his change of purpose, or the reason of it; but that now after he had written that letter, and after it had had all the effect which he desired, he states the true reason why he had not visited them.
It was now proper to do it; and that reason was, that he desired to spare them the severity of discipline, and had resorted to the more mild and affectionate measure of sending them a letter, and thus not making it necessary personally to administer discipline; see Paleyâs Horae Paulinae, on 2 Corinthians, Numbers 4:0 and 5. The phrase, âI call God for a record upon my soul,â is in the Greek, âI call God for a witness against my soul.â It is a solemn oath, or appeal to God; and implies, that if he did not in that case declare the truth, he desired that God would be a witness against him, and would punish him accordingly. The reason why he made this solemn appeal to God was, the importance of his vindicating his own character before the church, from the charges which had been brought against him.
That to spare you - To avoid the necessity of inflicting punishment on you; of exercising severe and painful discipline. If he went among them in the state of irregularity and disorder which prevailed there, he would feel it to be necessary to exert his authority as an apostle, and remove at once the offending members from the church. He expected to avoid the necessity of these painful acts of discipline, by sending to them a faithful and affectionate epistle, and thus inducing them to reform, and to avoid the necessity of a resort to that which would have been so trying to him and to them. It was not, then, a disregard for them, or a lack of attachment to them, which had led him to change his purpose, but it was the result of tender affection. This cause of the change of his propose, of course, he would not make known to them in his First Epistle, but now that that letter had accomplished all he had desired, it was proper that they should be apprized of the reason why he had resorted to this instead of visiting them personally.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. I call God for a record upon my soul — The apostle here resumes the subject which he left 2 Corinthians 1:16, and in the most solemn manner calls God to witness, and consequently to punish, if he asserted any thing false, that it was through tenderness to them that he did not visit Corinth at the time proposed. As there were so many scandals among them, the apostle had reason to believe that he should be obliged to use the severe and authoritative part of his function in the excommunication of those who had sinned, and delivering them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, c. but to give them space to amend, and to see what effect his epistle might produce, (not having heard as yet from them,) he proposed to delay his coming. It is plain, as several commentators have observed,
1. That St. Paul's doctrine had been opposed by some of Corinth, 1 Corinthians 15:12. His apostleship questioned, 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, and 2 Corinthians 12:13.
2. Himself despised, and treated as a person who, because of the consciousness he had of his own worthlessness, dared not to come, 1 Corinthians 4:18. His letters, say they, are weighty and powerful-full of boastings of what he can and what he will do; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible, 2 Corinthians 10:10.
3. This being the state in which his reputation was then at Corinth, and he having promised to come to them, 1 Corinthians 16:5, he could not but think it necessary to vindicate his failing them by reasons which should be both convincing and kind, such as those contained in the preceding verses. See Dodd and others.
