2 Corinthians 12:20

20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you as ye would not, lest there be debates, envyings, wrath, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, boastings, tumults;

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 desired Titus to go, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make any gain from you? Walked we not in the same spirit? Walked we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you as ye would not, lest there be debates, envyings, wrath, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, boastings, tumults;

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