What does 2 Corinthians 12:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As he concluded his epistle Paul looked forward to his anticipated return to Corinth in the immediate future (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:14). He shared his concerns about what he might experience and warned his readers to make certain changes before he arrived. He did this so he would not have to shame or discipline them when he arrived.

The first part of this verse may have been a statement or a question. The meaning is the same in either case. Paul said what he did, especially in 2 Corinthians 10:1 to 2 Corinthians 12:18, primarily to build up the Corinthian believers in their faith. His self-defense was only a means to that end. It was for that worthy goal that he was willing to speak "foolishly." He recognized that Hebrews , as a man in Christ, was ultimately responsible to God, not to his critics (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11). [source][source]

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Context Summary

"The long burst of passionate self-vindication has now at last expended itself," says Dean Stanley, and Paul returns to the point whence he diverged at 2 Corinthians 10:7, where he was avowing his intention to repress the disobedience of those who still resisted his authority at Corinth. "Now," he says, "my folly is over. That I should have indulged in it is your fault, not mine." What a comfort it is that he lays such repeated stress on his weakness! Instead of complaining of it, he used it as an argument with Christ that He should put forth more grace, and as an argument with his converts, that the results of his work had been granted as the divine endorsement of his apostolate.

Paul felt that his paternal relation to this church gave him the right to rebuke them, as a father rebukes his children. But he realized that they did not reciprocate his love, probably because they permitted the evil things enumerated in the closing verses. Often moral obliquity accounts for the decline and failure of love. Among other things, they had even accused him of getting money, if not directly, yet through Titus. But there were worse things still that needed to be dealt with, 2 Corinthians 12:20-21. Would that we were more often humbled to the dust by the sins of our brethren! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 12

¹  For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations,
⁹  yet he rather chooses to glory of his infirmities;
¹¹  blaming the Corinthians for forcing him to this vain boasting
¹⁴  He promises to come to them again; but yet altogether in the affection of a father;
²⁰  although he fears he shall to his grief find many offenders, and public disorders there