2 Corinthians 13:10 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.
2 Corinthians 13:10 nkjv
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
2 Corinthians 13:10 niv
This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority?the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
2 Corinthians 13:10 esv
For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
2 Corinthians 13:10 nlt
I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.
2 Corinthians 13 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 10:1 | Now I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ— | Humility of Christ |
| Gal 1:1 | Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ... | Apostolic Authority |
| Phil 1:8 | For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. | Earnest Desire |
| 1 Thes 2:8 | having so fond a yearning for you, we were well pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, | Deep Affection |
| Rom 1:11 | For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, to strengthen you— | Spiritual Strengthening |
| Eph 4:16 | from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes building itself up in love. | Body Edifying |
| Col 1:28 | Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. | Presenting Mature |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, | Unity and Agreement |
| 2 Cor 10:8 | For even if I boast a little somewhat more than usual, I will not be put to shame, | Godly Boldness |
| 2 Cor 11:31 | The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. | Integrity of Paul |
| 1 Peter 5:1 | So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: | Eldership Exhortation |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. | Ambassadorship |
| 1 Cor 4:21 | What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a gentle spirit? | Choice of Approach |
| Rom 15:29 | I am sure that when I come to you I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. | Fullness of Blessing |
| Acts 20:24 | But I do not account my life of any value nor as dear to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, | Faithful Ministry |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no benefit to you. | Obedience to Leaders |
| 1 John 4:16 | So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. | God is Love |
| Prov 16:24 | Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. | Gracious Words |
| Eph 4:2 | with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, | Humility and Gentleness |
| Gal 6:1 | Brothers, if anyone is found in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. | Gentle Restoration |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Humility |
| 2 Cor 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, | God of Comfort |
| John 13:34 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also, love one another. | Love One Another |
| 1 Cor 13:13 | So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. | Abiding Love |
2 Corinthians 13 verses
2 Corinthians 13 10 Meaning
Paul, having exhorted the Corinthians, declares his purpose in writing these things was not to inflict pain or make them sad, but to reveal his abundant love for them, which flows from his heart towards them. This expression of love is intended to strengthen their spiritual condition and to build them up in their faith.
2 Corinthians 13 10 Context
2 Corinthians 13:10 occurs at the very end of the Apostle Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth. This letter, like his first to them, deals with serious issues concerning their spiritual health, discipline, and Paul's apostolic authority. Paul has been addressing divisions, immorality, and challenges to his ministry. He has employed strong language in previous chapters, including threats of divine judgment and a firm approach to discipline. In this final chapter, Paul shifts tone. Before this verse, he has spoken about the need for further correction if he visits again, mentioning the power Christ has given him for building up and not tearing down. He emphasizes that even if he appears severe in his letters, his aim is positive. This concluding statement clarifies his intentions and heart behind his stern warnings.
2 Corinthians 13 10 Word Analysis
"Therefore": (Greek: dia touto). This is a connective term, linking Paul's previous statements with this concluding affirmation. It indicates that what follows is a result or purpose stemming from what has just been said. It reinforces the reason for his directness.
"I write": (Greek: grapho). This simple verb refers to the act of writing the letter. It grounds his declaration in the physical communication he is undertaking.
"these things": (Greek: tauta). This demonstrative pronoun refers to all the preceding words and arguments within the letter, especially the admonitions and warnings given.
"I write not": (Greek: ou grapho). Paul explicitly states his negative intent concerning the immediate impact of his writing.
"that I may make you sorry": (Greek: eis enthypen). The sense is to "produce regret" or "make you feel sorrow." Paul is not writing to cause them distress for its own sake. This shows his pastoral concern rather than punitive desire.
"being absent": (Greek: apoon). Refers to his physical distance from Corinth at the time of writing. This highlights the potential for misunderstanding or misinterpreting written words, hence his clarification of intent.
"I might use authority": (Greek: exousia). This refers to his God-given right and power as an apostle. Paul has been asserting this authority throughout the letter against those who questioned it.
"when I am present": (Greek: paron). Contrasts with "being absent." It refers to a future potential visit to Corinth.
"even upon them that hereafter": (Greek: epi tous poiēsantas). This is a powerful phrase. It points to those who had actively committed wrong, especially those who had supported false apostles or engaged in divisive practices. Paul’s authority is to be exercised in correcting their behavior when he is physically present.
Group Analysis:
- "I write these things, I write not that I may make you sorry, being absent": This group of phrases clearly distinguishes his written admonitions from a desire to cause them prolonged sorrow or punishment through distance. The purpose is not passive infliction of grief from afar.
- "but that I might have authority when I am present": This is Paul's corrective intention. His written words serve to prepare them and ensure that when he does come, he can exercise the proper apostolic authority to bring about spiritual restoration and order, rather than being forced to wield discipline as a primary means of establishing his authority. His presence would then be for strengthening and building up.
2 Corinthians 13 10 Bonus Section
Paul's rhetorical strategy in 2 Corinthians is masterful. After strong confrontations, he often reassures the Corinthians of his love and genuine concern, as seen in this verse. This alternation between sternness and tenderness reflects the heart of a shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4) who disciplines not out of malice but out of a deep love for the well-being of his flock. His reference to exercising authority "when I am present" highlights a principle in biblical discipline: it often requires personal engagement and presence for its most effective and loving application. The ultimate goal, as he articulates elsewhere (Eph 4:11-16), is the "building up of the body of Christ" in love.
2 Corinthians 13 10 Commentary
Paul's final word to the Corinthians in this chapter, and in this letter, is a profound expression of pastoral love and intent. He wants to be very clear that his rigorous and sometimes severe tone throughout the letter is not born out of a desire to inflict pain or humiliate them from a distance. Instead, it is a purposeful communication designed to bring about a spiritual maturity that will allow him to deal with them effectively and lovingly when he is present. His authority as an apostle is not a club to beat them with but a tool for their edification. By writing these words, he aims to prompt repentance and readiness for correction, so that his presence can be a source of building up in love and truth, rather than destructive judgment. This is the essence of Christ-like ministry: to love, to warn, and ultimately to restore.