What does 2 Corinthians 12:21 mean?
Recent verses have turned the tables on the Corinthians. After answering one false accusation against him after another, Paul makes clear that they are not his judge and jury. He speaks in Christ and before God. The reason for his prior defense was not to beg the Corinthians for approval. It was to warn them against following liars instead of the truth. Despite brave claims by his critics (2 Corinthians 10:10–12), Paul will come to them with the authority of Christ to respond to any sinfulness he finds among them.Once again, Paul seems incapable of speaking without a dose of humility. Some of the sting of the implied threat fades when he states he—Paul—will be humiliated if he finds them still engaged in unrepentant immorality. Apparently, this is something that had been going on for some time and should have been turned away from by now (1 Corinthians 5:1–2). Paul would be embarrassed to find his children in the Lord still engaged in such sinful practices.
In essence, Paul is begging them to confess and repent of any sin among them. In that way, everyone can avoid the humiliation of correction and discipline.