John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. I told you before, and foretell you as if I were present a second time , etc..] He means, that he had in his former epistle faithfully told them of their evils, and admonished them for them; and now he sends to them a second time before his coming, and again admonishes them, as if he was upon the spot with them; so that they had, as before, three witnesses, also a first and second admonition; which, should they be without success, he must proceed further: and being absent now, I write to them which heretofore have sinned ; before he wrote his first epistle, of which he had information, and had faithfully reproved and admonished them; (see 2 Corinthians 12:21). And to all other ; that might since be drawn into a compliance with sinful practices, through their example; or as the Arabic version renders it, to the rest of the congregation; who would be witnesses for him, and against them, that he had admonished them a first, and a second time: and by his present writing declares, that if I come again ; for, not knowing what might fall out to prevent him, though he was bent upon coming, and ready for it, nor what was the will of God about it, he does not choose to be positive in the matter; and therefore writes conditionally, and with a guard, and no doubt with a submission to the divine will: I will not spare ; this was the reason why as yet he had not been at Corinth, because he was willing to spare them; (see 2 Corinthians 1:23) being loath to come to severities, if gentler methods would take effect; but now having used all proper means, he is at a point, aud determined not to spare, but to use his apostolical rod, or that power which the Lord had given him in an extraordinary way, as an extraordinary officer, to punish incorrigible offenders, in such manner as the incestuous person, and Hymenaeus and Philetus had been used by him.
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
προειρηκα 4280 5758 V-RAI-1S και 2532 CONJ προλεγω 4302 5719 V-PAI-1S ως 5613 ADV παρων 3918 5752 V-PXP-NSM το 3588 T-NSN δευτερον 1208 A-NSN και 2532 CONJ απων 548 5752 V-PXP-NSM νυν 3568 ADV γραφω 1125 5719 V-PAI-1S τοις 3588 T-DPM προημαρτηκοσιν 4258 5761 V-RAP-DPM και 2532 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM λοιποις 3062 A-DPM πασιν 3956 A-DPM οτι 3754 CONJ εαν 1437 COND ελθω 2064 5632 V-2AAS-1S εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN παλιν 3825 ADV ου 3756 PRT-N φεισομαι 5339 5695 V-FDI-1S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. I told you before and foretell you (proeirhka kai prolegw). Rev., I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand. The renderings of the A.V. and Rev. should be carefully compared. The difference turns mainly on the denial or assumption of the second visit; the A.V. representing the former, and the Rev. the latter. I have said beforehand thus refers to the second visit; I do say beforehand, to his present condition of absence. As if I were present, the second time (wv parwn to deuteron). Rev., as when I was present the second time; thus making a distinct historical reference to the second visit. Note the comma after present in A.V. According to this, the second time is connected with prolegw, I say beforehand the second time. Another explanation, however, on the assumption of only two visits is, as if I were present this next time. And being absent now I write to them which heretofore, etc. (kai apwn nun grafw). I write must be omitted; now connected with being absent; and to them which connected with I say beforehand. Render, so now being absent (I say beforehand) to them which, etc.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:2 {As when I was present the second time} (hws parwn to deuteron). this translation assumes the second visit as already made. It is a natural way to take the Greek hws parwn. But hws with parwn can also mean "as if present" the second time (Authorized Version). Probably "as when" is the more natural rendering, but the other cannot be ruled entirely out in view of #1:15-23. {If I come again} (ean elqw eis to palin). Condition of third class. The use of palin of itself suits the idea that Paul had not yet made the second visit as it means simply "again" or "back," but in #Mt 26:44 we find palin ek tritou (again a third time) and so it is not decisive.
