In 2 Corinthians 12:20, the apostle Paul says he is afraid that when he visits the Corinthian believers, he will find them in conflict, quarreling, and living in ways that break their unity. He is not simply scolding them; he is expressing a pastor’s worry that the church might be torn apart by sinful behavior before he arrives. Paul wrote this letter to the church he had founded in Corinth, a busy port city where believers struggled with rivalries and moral failures.
For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots…
2 Corinthians 12:20 (WEB)
What 2 Corinthians 12:20 Means
Paul begins with an honest admission of fear. He does not know how he will find the church when he returns, and he is concerned that the people may not be what he hopes. The word “afraid” shows a father’s heart rather than a stern judge’s, because a shepherd who loves his flock watches for signs of trouble and grieves when those signs appear.
The list that follows names specific sins that damage relationships: strife, which is open fighting; jealousy, which is resentment of others’ success or standing. Outbursts of anger. Factions, meaning groups that split off from the rest. Slander, which is speaking harm about another person. Whisperings, which are secret gossip behind people’s backs. Proud thoughts, which are inflated views of oneself. And riots, which describes disorder and chaos. Paul is describing a community where people are more concerned with their own position than with one another’s good.
The verse does not promise that conflict will never arise among believers, and it does not say Paul’s fears were confirmed. It is a warning and a prayer for change. Elsewhere in the same letter Paul makes clear that he hopes to find the church repentant and reconciled, so the verse expresses concern for what could happen, not a fixed forecast.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 12:20
Second Corinthians is one of Paul’s most personal letters, written to a congregation that had been strained by false teachers, disputes over Paul’s authority, and a painful earlier visit. Paul writes with emotion, defending his ministry while urging the believers to restore their trust in him and in one another. The audience is the church in Corinth, and the letter reflects a relationship that had become tense and needed repair.
The verses just before this one, in 2 Corinthians 12:17 through 12:19, show Paul asking whether any of his coworkers took advantage of the Corinthians and insisting that his conduct has been open before God. Verse 20 flows out of that defense: he wants his coming visit to be a time of joy rather than discipline. Verse 21, which follows, continues the same concern by describing his sorrow over sins that have not been repented of. Read in this setting, the verse is part of a loving appeal for honesty, humility, and reconciliation.
Key Phrases in 2 Corinthians 12:20
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
(WEB)
This passage urges believers to put away bitterness, anger, and slander, and instead to be kind and forgiving to one another. It shows the positive path that Paul is calling the Corinthians toward, replacing the sins listed in 2 Corinthians 12:20 with tenderness and grace.
Philippians 2:3-4
3 Doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
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Paul here encourages believers to do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, and to value others above themselves. This directly addresses the proud thoughts and factional spirit that 2 Corinthians 12:20 warns against.
A Short Prayer From 2 Corinthians 12:20
Father, you know the places in my heart where pride, resentment, and the urge to win arguments still take root. I confess that I have sometimes spoken carelessly about others and let small offenses grow into division. Give me the courage to speak truthfully and the humility to listen well. Make my words build up your people rather than tear them down, and let your peace guide my relationships today. Amen.
