For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found unto you such as you desire not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, conceit, tumults:
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Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
I fear . . . lest there be wraths. θυμός with the Greeks that part of the mind which is called the irascible faculty, placed by Plato in the heart, and opposed to reason, which has for its seat the brain. Thence the word is applied to angry quarrellings, audacious arrogance, irascible conduct, when a man will not give up his opinion, but clings to it obstinately, and hotly opposes others, to show his spirit. Such actions spring from the irascible faculty when it is unchecked.
Whisperings. Secret and hidden attacks made by the malevolent on those they wish to bring into odium, or when they wish to sever friendships. Such a "whisperer" was Antipater, the son of Herod, who, that he might succeed his father, tried to make his elder brothers suspected by their father, that he might put them to death; but a just Nemesis overtook him, for he was himself put to death by Herod, as Josephus relates at length.
Swellings.—Pride and arrogance, which, as it were, puff up those they take posse...
He puts them in mind to be all of them reformed, to lay aside animosities, dissensions, swellings, proceeding from pride, uncleanness, fornication which indeed will be a humiliation and trouble to him, to be forced to use his power by severities; for if he find them such as he would not, they will also find him such as they would not. (Witham)
Ton me metanoesanton. This, according to St. Augustine, is spoken here of doing great penance for heinous sins, and not merely of repentance, as some moderns would fain interpret it. (ep. 198.)
Paul did not say that he was afraid of finding them in sin but rather that they might not be all he would wish. Furthermore, he balances this by saying that their expectations of him might be disappointed as well.
He is going to say something great and offensive. And therefore he also inserts this excuse [for it], both by saying, All things are for your edifying, and by adding, I fear, softening the harshness of what was presently going to be said. For it was not here out of arrogance nor the authority of a teacher, but out of a father's tender concern, when he is more fearful and trembling than the sinners themselves at that which is likely to reform them. And not even so does he run them down or make an absolute assertion; but says doubtingly, lest by any means when I come, I should not find you such as I would. He did not say, 'not virtuous,' but not such as I would, everywhere employing the terms of affection. And the words, I should find, are of one who would express what is out of natural expectation, as are also those, I shall be found by you. For the thing is not of deliberate choice, but of a necessity originating with you. Wherefore he says, I should be found such as you would not. He ...
