2 Corinthians 12:21

among you Or, with some interpreters, in reference toyou. The literal translation is to you.

which have sinned already Literally, those who have sinned before, i.e. either (1) before their conversion and who did not cast off their evil habits when they became Christians, or (2) those who sinned before the Apostle's letter came, and who did not pay any attention to his rebukes. The latter seems to fall in best with the tenor of the first Epistle and with ch. 2, 7, and 2 Corinthians 10:1-6.

and have not repented This makes it clear that, as 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 would imply, there were other offenders in the particular sin here mentioned beside the incestuous person. It also appears that the Apostle was willing to forgive such offenders as soon as they had abandoned their sin. For repentancesee ch. 2 Corinthians 7:9. The literal rendering of his sentence is many of those who have sinned and did not repent. Many commentators have asked, Why manyand not all? But they have overlooked the difference of tense in the original. There were many who had sinned, and who, up to the arrival of the second Epistle, had not repented. But it is quite clear that St Paul hoped that his second Epistle would have much influence upon those whom his first Epistle and the visit of Titus had failed to move.

lasciviousness The term in the original has reference to the unnatural condition of restless excitement which licentious habits produce in their victim.