2 Corinthians 12:20

“For I fear lest when I come, etc..] 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--Assigning cause why they needed to be thus spoken to "for their edification"; namely, his fear that at his coming he should find them "not such as he would," and so he should be found by them "such as they would not" like, namely, severe in punishing misconduct. debates--Greek, "strifes," "contentions." envyings--The oldest manuscripts read "envying," singular. strifes--"factions," "intrigues," "factious schemes" [WAHL]. Ambitious self-seeking; from a Greek root, "to work for hire." backbitings, whisperings--open "slanderings," and "whispering backbitings" (Gal 5:20). swellings--arrogant elation; puffing up of yourselves. Jde 1:16, "great swelling words" (Pe2 2:18).”

“For I fear, lest, when I come - see 2 Corinthians 12:14. I shall not find you such as I would - That is, walking in the truth and order of the gospel. He had feared that the disorders would not be removed, and that they would not have corrected the errors which prevailed, and for which he had rebuked them. It was on this account that he had said so much to them. His desire was that all these disorders might be removed, and that he might be saved from the necessity of exercising severe discipline when he should come among them. And that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not - That is, that I shall be compelled to administer discipline, and that my visit may not be as pleasant to you…”

“12:20-21 Paul feared encountering renewed rebellion and resistance during his upcoming visit, with the Corinthians relapsed into their old ways. • and you won’t like my response: If Paul had to, he would deal sternly with flagrant sinners (cp. 1:23–2:17; 1 Cor 4:21).”

“I shall not: Co2 12:21, Co2 13:9 and that: Co2 1:23, Co2 1:24, Co2 2:1-3, Co2 10:2, Co2 10:6, Co2 10:8, Co2 10:9, Co2 13:2, Co2 13:10; Co1 4:18-21, Co1 5:3-5 debates: Co1 1:11, Co1 3:3, Co1 3:4, Co1 4:6-8, Co1 4:18, Co1 6:7, Co1 6:8, Co1 11:16-19, Co1 14:36, Co1 14:37; Gal 5:15, Gal 5:19-21; Gal 5:26; Eph 4:31, Eph 4:32; Jam 3:14-16, Jam 4:1-5; Pe1 2:1 whisperings: Psa 41:7; Pro 16:28; Rom 1:29 swellings: Pe2 2:18; Jde 1:16 2 Corinthians 12:21”