SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:1
¶ Esto he determinado en mí, no venir otra vez a vosotros con tristeza.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:1
Verse 1. But I determined this] The apostle continues to give farther reasons why he did not visit them at the proposed time. Because of the scandals that were among them he could not see them comfortably; and therefore he determined not to see them at all till he had reason to believe that those evils were put away.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. But I determined with myself , etc..] The apostle having removed the charge of levity and inconstancy brought against him, goes on to excuse his delay in coming to them, and to soften the severity, which some thought too much, he had used in his former epistle: he determined with himself, he took up a resolution within his own breast some time ago, says he, that I would not come again to you in heaviness ; that he would not come with sorrow and heaviness, bewailing their sins not repented of, and by sharp reproofs and censures, which in such a case would be necessary, be the cause of grief and trouble to them; wherefore he determined to wait their repentance and amendment before he came again. The word again, may be connected with the phrase in heaviness; and the sense be, that in his former epistle, which was a sort of coming to them, he made them heavy and sorry, by sharply rebuking them for some disorders that were among them; and since it has been a settled point with him, that he would not come in heaviness again: or with the word come; and then the meaning is, as his first coming among them was to the joy of their souls, so it was a determined case with him, that his second coming should not be with grief, either to them or himself, or both; and this is the true reason why he had deferred it so long.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The apostle desired to have a cheerful meeting with them; and he ha written in confidence of their doing what was to their benefit and his comfort; and that therefore they would be glad to remove every cause of disquiet from him. We should always give pain unwillingly, even when duty requires that it must be given.
Greek Textus Receptus
εκρινα 2919 5656 V-AAI-1S δε 1161 CONJ εμαυτω 1683 F-1DSM τουτο 5124 D-ASN το 3588 T-ASN μη 3361 PRT-N παλιν 3825 ADV ελθειν 2064 5629 V-2AAN εν 1722 PREP λυπη 3077 N-DSF προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. With myself (emautw). Rev., better, for myself. Paul, with affectionate tact, puts it as if he had taken this resolution for his own pleasure. In heaviness (en luph). Meaning, apparently, the apostle's own sorrowful state of mind. This is wrong. He refers to the sorrow which his coming would bring to the Church. Compare to spare, ch. i. 23. Rev., with sorrow.Again. Referring to a former unrecorded visit.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:1 {That I would not come again to you with sorrow} (to me palin en lupei pros humas elqein). Articular second aorist active infinitive with negative me in apposition with touto ( this ) preceding. What does Paul mean by "again" (palin)? Had he paid another visit besides that described in #Ac 18 which was in sorrow (en lupei)? Or does he mean that having had one joyful visit (that in #Ac 18) he does not wish the second one to be in sorrow? Either interpretation is possible as the Greek stands and scholars disagree. So in #12:14 "The third time I am ready to come" may refer to the proposed second visit (#1:15f.) and the present plan (a third). And so as to #13:1. There is absolutely no way to tell clearly whether Paul had already made a second visit. If he had done so, it is a bit odd that he did not plainly say so in #1:15f. when he is apologizing for not having made the proposed visit ("a second benefit").
