2 Corinthians 12:20

For I fear, lest by any means, when I came, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings whisperings, swellings, tumults.

Carver, with many other eminent commentators, properly saw this verse as "No doubt applicable only to a minority of the church."[41] It should also be noted that the four pairs of disorders are exactly those which existed at the time of the writing of 1Corinthians, making this letter a logical sequel to that, and not to some supposed "severe letter" written later. The problem was that, despite the good news brought by Titus, "there was still a minority of Christians in the city who were still carnally minded and undisciplined in the school of Christ."[42] It was that faction still impressed with the false apostles against whom these warnings were directed.

[41] Frank G. Carver, op. cit., p. 637.

[42] R. V. G. Tasker, op. cit., p. 185.