^10 (A)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the ^(B)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

⁸ For even if I should boast somewhat more ^(A)about our authority, which the Lord gave ^[a]us for ^[b]edification and not for your destruction, ^(B)I shall not be ashamed—

Forgive the Offender

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, ^(A)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, ^(B)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

¹³ This testimony is true. ^(A)Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

^2 (A)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent ^[a]I write to those ^(B)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again ^(C)I will not spare—

²⁰ For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that ^(A)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; ²¹ lest, when I come again, my God ^(B)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many ^(C)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, ^(D)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

² But I beg you ^(A)that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

²¹ What do you want? ^(A)Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?