2 Corinthians 12:21
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Original Language Analysis
μὴ
And lest
G3361
μὴ
And lest
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
1 of 27
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
πάλιν
again
G3825
πάλιν
again
Strong's:
G3825
Word #:
2 of 27
(adverbially) anew, i.e., (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand
ἐλθόντα
when I come
G2064
ἐλθόντα
when I come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
3 of 27
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ταπεινώσῃ
will humble
G5013
ταπεινώσῃ
will humble
Strong's:
G5013
Word #:
5 of 27
to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart)
τῇ
which
G3588
τῇ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεός
God
G2316
θεός
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
7 of 27
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
πρὸς
among
G4314
πρὸς
among
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
9 of 27
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πολλοὺς
many
G4183
πολλοὺς
many
Strong's:
G4183
Word #:
13 of 27
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
τῇ
which
G3588
τῇ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προημαρτηκότων
have sinned already
G4258
προημαρτηκότων
have sinned already
Strong's:
G4258
Word #:
15 of 27
to sin previously (to conversion)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
μὴ
And lest
G3361
μὴ
And lest
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
17 of 27
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
μετανοησάντων
have
G3340
μετανοησάντων
have
Strong's:
G3340
Word #:
18 of 27
to think differently or afterwards, i.e., reconsider (morally, feel compunction)
ἐπὶ
of
G1909
ἐπὶ
of
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
19 of 27
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τῇ
which
G3588
τῇ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀκαθαρσίᾳ
the uncleanness
G167
ἀκαθαρσίᾳ
the uncleanness
Strong's:
G167
Word #:
21 of 27
impurity (the quality), physically or morally
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
22 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πορνείᾳ
fornication
G4202
πορνείᾳ
fornication
Strong's:
G4202
Word #:
23 of 27
harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
24 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀσελγείᾳ
lasciviousness
G766
ἀσελγείᾳ
lasciviousness
Strong's:
G766
Word #:
25 of 27
licentiousness (sometimes including other vices)
Cross References
2 Corinthians 13:2I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:Colossians 3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:1 Corinthians 5:1It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Historical Context
Corinth was a port city infamous for sexual immorality, including temple prostitution at the Aphrodite temple. The Corinthian church, emerging from this pagan context, struggled to apply gospel holiness to sexual ethics (1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:12-20). Paul's fear that many remained impenitent suggests widespread tolerance of sexual sin—a devastating failure requiring apostolic discipline on his third visit.
Questions for Reflection
- How does "my God will humble me" reframe pastoral grief over congregational sin—not as personal failure but as God-ordained humbling through others' impenitence?
- Why does Paul emphasize "have not repented" rather than simply "have sinned"—what does this reveal about the sin that most endangers the church?
- What does Paul's weeping ("I shall bewail") over sexual sin teach about appropriate pastoral response—combining truth about sin's seriousness with brokenhearted love for sinners?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. Paul's fear deepens: his third visit might bring humbling (tapeinōsei, ταπεινώσει)—not honor but shame when he must publicly grieve over unrepentant sinners. The phrase my God will humble me shows Paul doesn't see this as human-caused embarrassment but divine discipline: God orchestrates humbling through congregational sin that Paul must confront.
The mourning is pastoral: I shall bewail (pentho, πενθήσω, "mourn," "lament") many which have sinned already, and have not repented. Past tense "sinned already" (perhaps the incest case from 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 or other sexual sins) coupled with ongoing impenitence creates crisis. Paul will mourn (not merely rebuke)—pastoral grief over souls endangered by sin.
The specific sins: akatharsia (ἀκαθαρσία, "uncleanness," moral impurity), porneia (πορνεία, "fornication," sexual immorality), and aselgeia (ἀσέλγεια, "lasciviousness," sensuality). This triad covers the spectrum of sexual sin—internal impurity, external fornication, and shameless excess. Corinth's culture was notoriously immoral ("to Corinthianize" meant to practice sexual vice), and the church remained contaminated despite Paul's previous corrections (1 Corinthians 5-6).