2 Corinthians 1:23 (ASV)

Passage

But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

2 Corinthians 1:22 who also sealed us, and gave [us] the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 1:23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "call", "witness", "upon", "soul", "spare", "forbare", "come", and "corinth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "call" and "witness", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "who also sealed us and gave us..." into verse 24's "Not that we have lordship over your...", so "call" and "witness" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "call" and "witness" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.