2 Corinthians 13:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." So here also he adds, "When I come again, I will not spare." These words mean: "I will no longer postpone punishment if, God forbid, I find you uncorrected. I will certainly punish, and I will fulfill what I said."

His words have this meaning: once and again I spoke when I came, and now I speak in writing. If you obey me, what I so desired has been fulfilled. But if you do not obey, then in the end it is necessary to do what was said and apply punishment.

As God Himself often threatens yet always delays punishment, so Paul, imitating Him, first gathers many witnesses. He says, as it is written, that "by two or three witnesses every word shall be established," that is, confirmed (Deut 17:6). So also, by my three comings, every threatening word of mine against you will be fixed and confirmed, if you do not repent. For he sets his comings in the place of witnesses.

Above, Paul spoke only of his preparations, but now he points to his coming. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." He says this according to the Law, since every matter shall stand by the words of two witnesses, or by the words of three witnesses (Deut 19:15). So he also reminds them of his third coming, in order to find the Corinthians purified.

The Apostle presented events instead of persons, calling witnesses against those who neglect repentance and frightening them.

"This is the third time I am coming to you." Two visits of the Apostle to Corinth are counted before the time of the Second Epistle. Yet since the second visit is doubtful, it is better to replace it with the written visit in the First Epistle. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall stand." Here, instead of personal witnesses, there are the Apostle's own words about his coming to Corinth, written twice in his two Epistles.

"Do you still think that we are merely defending ourselves before you?" Thus the holy Apostle Paul concludes the defensive part of his epistle.

Then, after saying that the chief aim of his words is the correction of the Corinthians, the Apostle fears that he may indeed find them such as he does not wish. He also fears that he may have to mourn for many who sinned before and did not repent.

In that grievous case the Apostle will have to use severity without further sparing them. This is precisely because the Corinthians seek from him tangible proofs of his apostolic authority, and whether Christ is speaking in him.

"Rather, test and examine yourselves," the Apostle adds. "But concerning us, I trust that you will know that we are what we ought to be" (2 Cor 13:6).

Continuing to threaten the unrepentant Corinthians with punishment for their sins, the Apostle speaks of his many oral and written instructions to them. In this way he leaves them without answer before him and before God.

Saint Chrysostom says of this: "The wisdom of the Apostle Paul and his fatherly tender-heartedness may be seen from many things, but especially from this. In threats he is abundant and severe, while in punishments he is quiet and slow."

"So that this slowness might not produce carelessness, see how he also prevents this by continually threatening, drawing the blow tight, and saying: 'If I come again, I will not spare.'"

(Deut 17:6). He calls his personal exhortations and written admonitions witnesses. What word, then, will stand by these witnesses? The word of threat against you. At last it will stand, and it will certainly be brought into effect.

Thus Chrysostom and others understand it. Oecumenius understands by the three witnesses three personal admonitions and three that were not personal. It is as though he said: "I was there twice; I am coming a third time. These will be three witnesses."

Likewise: "I wrote in the first epistle, reminded you through Titus, and now again remind you in this second epistle. These are another three witnesses." Coming together in pairs, they strengthen the force of the testimonies.