2 Corinthians 12:21

[And] lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and [that] I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

And lest {G3361}, when I come {G2064} again {G3825}, my {G3450} God {G2316} will humble {G5013} me {G3165} among {G4314} you {G5209}, and {G2532} that I shall bewail {G3996} many {G4183} which {G3588} have sinned already {G4258}, and {G2532} have {G3340} not {G3361} repented {G3340} of {G1909} the uncleanness {G167} and {G2532} fornication {G4202} and {G2532} lasciviousness {G766} which {G3739} they have committed {G4238}.

I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me in your presence, and that I will be grieved over many of those who sinned in the past and have not repented of the impurity, fornication and debauchery that they have engaged in.

I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.

Commentary

In 2 Corinthians 12:21, the Apostle Paul expresses his deep concern and potential sorrow regarding the spiritual state of some members in the church at Corinth as he anticipates his third visit. He fears that his God will humble him by revealing unrepentant sin among them, leading him to grieve over their condition.

Context

This verse comes at the end of a section (chapters 10-12) where Paul defends his apostleship and addresses various issues in the Corinthian church, including challenges to his authority and reports of moral failings. He has just described his own sufferings and his "thorn in the flesh" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7), contrasting his weakness with God's strength. Now, he shifts back to his anxieties about the Corinthians themselves. His previous visits and letters aimed to correct behavior and doctrine. His fear here is that despite his efforts, he will find many still living in blatant sin without repentance, causing him immense sorrow and potentially leading to difficult confrontations upon his arrival (2 Corinthians 13:1).

Key Themes

  • Paul's Pastoral Concern: This verse reveals Paul's genuine love and concern for the Corinthians, not wanting to find them in a state that would require stern discipline or cause him grief. His potential humbling is tied to their spiritual failure, not his own.
  • The Seriousness of Unrepented Sin: Paul specifically names "uncleanness," "fornication," and "lasciviousness." The core issue is not merely that they sinned, but that they "have not repented," indicating a settled lifestyle or attitude contrary to Christian calling.
  • The Necessity of Repentance: The verse implicitly underscores the vital importance of turning from sin and amending one's life in response to the Gospel.
  • Potential for God's Humbling: Paul believes God might humble him by allowing him to witness this spiritual failure, perhaps as a consequence of the church's own lack of discipline or responsiveness.

Linguistic Insights

The sins listed use specific Greek terms:

  • Uncleanness (ἀκαθαρσία - akatharsia): Refers to moral impurity in a broad sense, often including sexual sin but also other forms of defilement.
  • Fornication (πορνεία - porneia): A general term for sexual immorality, including adultery, prostitution, and other illicit sexual acts. This term appears frequently in warnings against sin in the New Testament.
  • Lasciviousness (ἀσέλγεια - aselgeia): Describes a lack of moral restraint, often characterized by lewdness, sensuality, and a defiant disregard for decency or public opinion regarding behavior. It implies a shameless indulgence in sin.
The combination highlights a range of serious moral and sexual transgressions that were evidently present and unaddressed by some in the Corinthian church.

Reflection and Application

This verse is a somber reminder that sin, particularly unrepented sin, grieves God and those who genuinely care for the spiritual well-being of others. Paul's fear reflects a godly sorrow over sin's destructive power and its effect on the community of faith. For believers today, it calls for:

  • Serious consideration of the sins listed and others, recognizing their gravity before God.
  • Regular self-examination and sincere repentance when we fall short.
  • A commitment to holiness and moral purity as a response to God's grace.
  • For church communities, a loving but firm approach to addressing known sin among members, encouraging repentance and restoration, rather than allowing it to fester unchecked.

Paul's potential sorrow serves as a warning about the consequences of neglecting the call to repentance and living a life consistent with the Gospel.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 13:2

    I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9

    ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:11

    But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

  • Colossians 3:5

    ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

  • 1 Peter 4:2

    That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

  • 1 Peter 4:3

    For the time past of [our] life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
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