2 Corinthians 13:10

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

BSB

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

KJV

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

ASV

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.

BBE

For this cause I am writing these things while I am away, so that there may be need for me, when I am present, to make use of sharp measures, by the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for destruction.

Original Greek

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διὰ dia Because of G1223 τοῦτο touto therefore G3778 ταῦτα tauta these things G3778 ἀπὼν apōn being absent G548 γράφω graphō I write G1125 ἵνα ina so that G2443 παρὼν parōn being present G3918 μὴ mē not G3361 ἀποτόμως apotomōs with severity G664 χρήσωμαι chrēsōmai I may treat [you] G5530 κατὰ kata according to G2596 τὴν tēn the G3588 ἐξουσίαν exousian authority G1849 ἣν hēn that G3739 ὁ ho the G3588 κύριος kurios Lord G2962 ἔδωκέν edōken has given G1325 μοι moi me G3165 εἰς eis for G1519 οἰκοδομὴν oikodomēn building up G3619 καὶ kai and G2532 οὐκ ouk not G3756 εἰς eis for G1519 καθαίρεσιν.¶ kathairesin tearing down G2506

The early church

He was sensible he had spoken more vehemently than his wont, and especially towards the end of the Epistle. Since then he had said these things and more besides, terrifying, shaming, reproaching, lashing them, he says, in excuse for all, "For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply." For I am desirous the sharpness should lie in my letters and not in my deeds. I wish my threats to be vehement, that they may continue threats and never go forth into action.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians
Again even in this his apology he makes what he says more terrible, showing that it is not himself who is to punish, but God; for he added, "according to the authority which the Lord gave me;" and again, to show that he desires not to use his power to their punishment, he added, "not for casting down, but for building up." And he hinted indeed this now, as I said, but he left it to them to draw the conclusion that if they should continue unamended, even this again is building up, to punish those that are of such a mind. For so it is, and he knew it and showed it by his deeds.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 7–10

The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil. The apostle not only desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in holiness. We are earnestly to pray to God for those we caution, that they may cease to do evil, and learn to do well; and we should be glad for others to be strong in the grace of Christ, though it may be the means of showing our own weakness. let us also pray that we may be enabled to make a proper use of all our talents.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 13 →

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ChurchMinister, Christian

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.