complete verse (2 Corinthians 13:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 13:2:

  • Uma: “While I was with you the second time, I warned those who had sinned. So, this time, while I am still far away, I’m repeating my admonishment to them and to whomever needs this admonishment: when I arrive, I will indeed be harsh, no-one will escape my anger.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When I came there the second time, I instructed hep those who had sinned formerly and all of you there. Now I instruct you again while I have not yet arrived there that when I come again I will not pity/be kind with whoever does not leave his sins.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “will be able to avoid my punishing him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “On my second visit to you, I warned the one who sinned previously as-well-as the others of you who were sinning that I would thoroughly punish them upon my return if they had not yet repented. And I repeat now to warn them even though I am not in your location.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “On that second visit of mine to you, I told those who had sinned to stop. And now, not yet having come there, I am telling them again, along with whoever else has sinned. I am warning them that if they have not yet dropped (their sin), there will be no forgiveness when I arrive.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the people who have sinned before, as well as others, just like the word I told you at the second time I saw you, when I come there again to see you and if I find that you continue in evil, then no longer will I be patient about what you are doing.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:2

Those who sinned before refers to people who had sinned prior to Paul’s second visit to Corinth and who heard his warning during his second visit. In some languages it may be necessary to say explicitly “those who were doing wrong before my last visit.”

All the others refers to any other people who have sinned since his second visit, either by immoral behavior or by supporting the “false apostles.” The warning is that Paul “will not be lenient” (New American Bible) with offenders when he comes for the third time.

Some manuscripts add the words “I write” after the words “being absent now” in Greek, and King James Version and Reina-Valera revisada follow this reading: “and being absent now I write to them.” Though the original Greek almost certainly did not include the word translated “I write,” the addition does not change the meaning.

That if I come again I will not spare them: the word that may introduce an indirect quotation as in Revised Standard Version, or it may be the equivalent of quotation marks: “I said, ‘The next time I come, nobody will escape punishment’ ” (similarly Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, New International Version).

If I come again: the Greek probably means nothing more than “when I come again” (see Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, New International Version), and more than likely it does not mean that Paul had doubt about whether he would visit the Corinthian church again.

I will not spare them: Paul will not hesitate to exercise strong discipline against the offenders. The verb translated spare is the same as in 1.23 as well as 12.6, where it is translated “refrain” in Revised Standard Version. Here the idea is to refrain from punishing the guilty persons, although there is no expressed object in Greek. The pronoun them has been added by Revised Standard Version. But Translator’s New Testament adds the pronoun “you.” New Revised Standard Version revises to say “I will not be lenient,” while New Jerusalem Bible reads “I shall have no mercy.”

The structure of this verse may have to be simplified in certain languages. The first verb indicates something that Paul did on his previous visit, his second to Corinth. Translators may change the order of the statements as follows:
• On my second visit with you I warned those who did wrong and everyone else to stop doing wrong. Now that I am far away from you, I am giving you the same warning. When I come again, no one who does wrong will be able to avoid discipline.

Another possible model, putting the quotation first, may read as follows:
• This is what I say: “When I come again, no one who does wrong will escape discipline.” On my second visit to you I warned those who did wrong and all others to stop acting that way. Now that I am far from you, I am giving the same warning again.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 13:2

13:2a I already warned you the second time I was with you.

When I visited you (plur.) the second time, I warned those who sinned earlier and all the others.
-or-
During my second visit, I warned those who sinned in the past and all the others ⌊there⌋.

13:2b So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else:

Now while I am not yet there, I repeat what I said beforehand,
-or-
Before I come ⌊there⌋, I now warn again ahead of my next visit ⌊to you⌋

13:2c If I return, I will not spare anyone,

that if I come back there I will not let any of them escape punishment.
-or-
that when I return I will not have mercy ⌊on any who have not repented⌋.

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Sung version of 2 Corinthians 13

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