Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on 2 Corinthians 12:20

20. For--Assigning cause why they needed to be thus spoken to "for their edification"; namely, his fear that at his coming he should find them "not such as he would," and so he should be found by them "such as they would not" like, namely, severe in punishing misconduct.

debates--Greek, "strifes," "contentions."

envyings--The oldest manuscripts read "envying," singular.

strifes--"factions," "intrigues," "factious schemes" [Wahl]. Ambitious self-seeking; from a Greek root, "to work for hire."

backbitings, whisperings--open "slanderings," and "whispering backbitings" (Ga 5:20).

swellings--arrogant elation; puffing up of yourselves. Jude 16, "great swelling words" (2Pe 2:18).