SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:23
Mas yo llamo a Dios por testigo sobre mi alma, que hasta ahora no he venido a Corinto por ser indulgente con vosotros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:23
Verse 23. I call God for a record upon my soul] The apostle here resumes the subject which he left ver. 16, and in the most solemn manner calls God to witness, and consequently to punish, if he asserted any thing false, that it was through tenderness to them that he did not visit Corinth at the time proposed. As there were so many scandals among them, the apostle had reason to believe that he should be obliged to use the severe and authoritative part of his function in the excommunication of those who had sinned, and delivering them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, &c.; but to give them space to amend, and to see what effect his epistle might produce, (not having heard as yet from them,) he proposed to delay his coming. It is plain, as several commentators have observed, 1. That St. Paul's doctrine had been opposed by some of Corinth, 1 Cor. xv. 12. His apostleship questioned, 1 Cor. ix. 1, 2, and chap. xii. 13. 2. Himself despised, and treated as a person who, because of the consciousness he had of his own worthlessness, dared not to come, 1 Cor. iv. 18. His letters, say they, are weighty and powerful-full of boastings of what he can and what he will do; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible, chap. x. 10. 3. This being the state in which his reputation was then at Corinth, and he having promised to come to them, 1 Cor. xvi. 5, he could not but think it necessary to vindicate his failing them by reasons which should be both convincing and kind, such as those contained in the preceding verses. See Dodd and others.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul , etc..] The apostle having asserted his stability, both as a minister and a Christian, which, with others, he had from God, appeals to him in the most solemn manner, in full form of an oath, for the truth of what he was about to say; and is all one as if he had said, I swear by the living God, the searcher of all hearts; I call upon him to attest what I say, and bear witness to my soul, that it is true, that to spare you, I came not as yet unto Corinth ; however fickle, unstable, and inconstant, it may be insinuated to you I am, or you may take me to be, I do assure you in the name and presence of God, that the true reason of my not coming to you hitherto, since I gave you reason to expect me, was, that I might not be burdensome or chargeable to you; or I have delayed coming to you, hoping for a reformation among you, that when I do come, I may not come with a rod, and severely chastise you for the many disorders among you; that I might not use sharpness according to the power God has given me, in an extraordinary way, as an apostle, to punish for offences committed. Hence we learn, that an oath is a solemn appeal to God, and may be lawfully made in cases of moment and importance, as this of the apostle's was; whose character was traduced, and with which was connected the usefulness of his ministry; and it being an affair that could not be determined in any other way, and an oath being for confirmation, and to put an end to strife, he makes one in this serious and awful manner.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-24 - The apostle clears himself from the charge of levity and inconstancy in not coming to Corinth. Good men should be careful to keep the reputation of sincerity and constancy; they should not resolve, but of careful thought; and they will not change unless for weighty reasons Nothing can render God's promises more certain: his giving them throug Christ, assures us they are his promises; as the wonders God wrought in the life, resurrection, and ascension of his Son, confirm faith. The Holy Spirit makes Christians firm in the faith of the gospel: the quickening of the Spirit is an earnest of everlasting life; and the comforts of the Spirit are an earnest of everlasting joy. The apostl desired to spare the blame he feared would be unavoidable, if he ha gone to Corinth before he learned what effect his former lette produced. Our strength and ability are owing to faith; and our comfor and joy must flow from faith. The holy tempers and gracious fruit which attend faith, secure from delusion in so important a matter __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
εγω 1473 P-1NS δε 1161 CONJ μαρτυρα 3144 N-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM θεον 2316 N-ASM επικαλουμαι 1941 5731 V-PMI-1S επι 1909 PREP την 3588 T-ASF εμην 1699 S-1ASF ψυχην 5590 N-ASF οτι 3754 CONJ φειδομενος 5339 5740 V-PNP-NSM υμων 5216 P-2GP ουκετι 3765 ADV ηλθον 2064 5627 V-2AAI-1S εις 1519 PREP κορινθον 2882 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. I call God for a record (ton Qeon epikaloumai). Rev., better, witness. A common classical idiom. Compare Plato: "Next will follow the choir of young men under the age of thirty, who will call upon the God Paean to testify to the truth of these words" ("Laws," 664). Homer: "For the gods will be the best witnesses" ("Iliad," xxii., 254). Compare Romans i. 9; Gal. i. 20; Philip. i. 8; 1 Thess. ii. 5, 10; Genesis xxxi. 50, Sept. This particular form of expression occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The verb is often translated appeal, as Acts xxv. 11, 12. Also to call upon, in the sense of supplication, Rom. x. 12, 13, 14; 1 Corinthians i. 2.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:23 {But I call God for a witness upon my soul} (egw de martura ton qeon epikaloumai epi ten emen yucen). Solemn attestation, "calling heaven to witness is frequent in literature from Homer onwards" (Plummer). Thus God is described above (cf. #1Th 2:5,10; Ro 1:9; Ga 1:20; Php 1:8). {To spare you} (feidomenos humwn). Present middle participle (causal rather than final) of feidomai, old verb, to hold back, to spare. Ablative case humwn.
