^2 (A)I warned ^(B)those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that ^(C)if I come again I will not spare them—

¹⁰ For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come ^(A)I may not have to be ^(B)severe in my use of ^(C)the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

¹⁸ Some are ^(A)arrogant, ^(B)as though I were not coming to you.

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