2 Corinthians 1:23 (DBY)

Passage

But I call God to witness upon my soul that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, [is] God,

2 Corinthians 1:22 who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 1:23 But I call God to witness upon my soul that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow-workmen of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "call", "witness", "upon", "soul", "spare", "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 has sealed us and given..." into verse 24's "Not that we rule over your faith...", 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.