John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. This is the third time I am coming to you , etc..] Or am ready to come to you, as the Alexandrian copy reads, as in ( 2 Corinthians 12:14). Though he had been as yet but once at Corinth, and is to be reckoned and accounted for, either after this manner; he had been once with them when he first preached the Gospel to them, and was the means of their conversion, and laid, the foundation of their church state, of which there is some account in ( Acts 18:1,17) he came to them a second time, by writing his first epistle, when he desired to be considered by them, as though he was present with them, ( 1 Corinthians 5:3) and now a third time by this second epistle, in which he also speaks as if he was among them, see the following verse; or else in this way, he had been actually in person with them one time, and had been about to come in purpose and preparation a second time, but was prevented, and now was just ready a third time to set forward in his journey to them; (see Corinthians 12:14) and so the Syriac version reads it here, this is the third time that I am ready to come to you, and which our version also favours.
The Alexandrian copy and some others, the Complutension edition, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, read, behold, this third time, etc.. in order to raise and fix their attention to what he was saying, or about to say: in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established ; referring to ( Deuteronomy 19:15) which he applies much in the same manner Christ does in ( Matthew 18:16) and which it is probable he had in view; signifying hereby, that he proceeded in a judicial way, according to due form of law, and in such a manner as Christ had directed; and that they were to look upon his several comings in the sense now explained, to be as so many witnesses, whereby the several charges exhibited against them were fully attested and confirmed, so that things were now ripe for judgment, and for a final sentence to pass upon them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare thos who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and lif showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptibl soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifeste the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, an experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If the could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, no disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdo set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we ar true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are ye disapproved by our Judge.
Greek Textus Receptus
τριτον 5154 A-ASN τουτο 5124 D-ASN ερχομαι 2064 5736 V-PNI-1S προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP επι 1909 PREP στοματος 4750 N-GSN δυο 1417 A-NUI μαρτυρων 3144 N-GPM και 2532 CONJ τριων 5140 A-GPM σταθησεται 2476 5701 V-FPI-3S παν 3956 A-NSN ρημα 4487 N-NSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. The third time. The great mass of modern expositors hold that Paul made three visits to Corinth, of the second of which there is no record. 162 I am coming. The third visit which I am about to pay. Alford observes that had not chronological theories intervened, no one would ever have thought of any other rendering. Those who deny the second visit explain: this is the third time that I have been intending to come.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:1 {The third time I am coming} (triton ercomai). Either the third that he had planned to come or that he had been twice. The warning is made by quoting #De 19:15.
