I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
Rather, 'I have already said (at my second visit), and declare (now) beforehand, AS (I did) WHEN I WAS PRESENT THE SECOND TIME, so also (I declare) NOW in my absence ('Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, omit the "I write," wrongly in the English version, Greek text) to them which heretofore have sinned (namely, before my second visit, 2 Corinthians 12:21), and to all others,' (who have sinned since my second visit, or are in danger of sinning, etc.) 'I have said already' applies chiefly to 'them which have sinned heretofore;' 'I declare' (now) to 'all others' who have sinned since, etc. The English version, "as if I were present, the second time" - namely, this time-is inconsistent with 2 Corinthians 13:1, "this is the third time I am coming." Paul could not have called the same journey "the second" and "the third time" of his coming. The antithesis between "the second time" and "now" is palpable.
If I come again - whensoever I come again (Acts 20:2). These were probably the words of his former threat, which he now repeats.
I will not spare - in contrast to his forbearance toward transgressors at his second visit.