2Corinthians 12:19-21 Again, think you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as you would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. 

‘Think you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.’ He asked if they thought that he makes an apology for his conduct and that he sent the brethren to them because he was ashamed to come himself; He declares that God is his judge in this matter and know that this was not his motive. What he has done has been for their edification.

‘I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as you would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.’ Paul has been fearful of three things: Lest he did not find them as they should be; lest he found them full of debates: wranglings (Rom. 1:29), envyings: jealousies (Acts 5:17), wraths: indignation (Rom. 2:8), strifes: contentions (Rom. 2:8), backbitings: slanders (1Pet. 2:1), whisperings: murmurs (1Cor. 10:10), swellings: puffed up feelings (1Cor. 4:6), tumults: uproars (Luke 21:9); lest God shall humble him among them because of some that have sinned and have not repented, and lest he has to use his power to judge all such (2Cor. 12:21; 10:8-11; 13:10; 1Cor. 4:18-20)

‘Uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness’ – three kinds of moral sins: Homosexuality, known in the lists of sins under the term “uncleanness” (12:21; Rom. 1:24; 6:19; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 5:3; Col. 3:5; 2Pet. 2:10); fornication (Matt. 5:32); lasciviousness (Gal. 5:19).