which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.
The same apprehension expressed under a different form. The word again may belong to co^ning^ "me coming again;" or with will humble^ " God will humble me again." This im- plies that during his second unrecorded visit, Paul was humbled by what he saw in Corinth, and grieved, as he says, 2, 1, in having to use severity in suppressing prevalent disorders. He feared lest his third should prove like that painful second visit. The more obvious and natural connection, however, of iraXiv is with eA^oVra, as in our version. ' Lest God will hum- ble me when I come again.' Nothing filled the apostles with greater delight than to see the churches of their care stead- fast in faith and in obedience to the truth ; and nothing so pained and humbled them as the departure of their disciples from the j^aths of truth and holiness. Humble me among you / TTpos v/xtt?, in relation to you.
And that I shall bewail^ Trev^rjo-oi. The word TrevSio) is here used transitively ; to mourn any one, to grieve for him. Many suppose that the sorrow here intended was that which arises from the necessity of punishing ; so that the idea really intended is, ' I fear I shall have to discipline (or excommuni- cate) some, <fcc.' But this, to say the least, is not necessary. All that the words or context requires is, that Paul dreaded having to mourn over many impenitent members of the church. Many lohich have sinned already and have not re- 2)ented^ ttoXXovs tCjv TrporjfjiapTrjKOTOiv kol /xtj /xcTavor/crai/Tcov, many of those 2cho having sinned shall 7iot have repented. The irpo in 7rpor]ixapTy]K6TO)v is probably not to be pressed, so as to make the word refer to those who had sinned before some specific time, — as their profession of Christianity, or Paul's previous visit. The force of the preposition is sufficiently expressed by the Avord heretofore. 'Those who have heretofore sinned.' What Paul feared, was, that when he got to Corinth he should find that many of those who had sinned, had not joined in the repentance for which he commended the congregation as a v/hole. Of the imclean7iess^ <£c., which they committed. Ac- cording to Meyer, eVl t^ aKa^apo-ta, K.r.\.., are to be connected with Trei/^rjo-w, ' I shall lament many on account of the unclean- ness, &c.' The position of the words is evidently in favour of the common construction. ' Who have not repented con-