2 Corinthians 13:10

“Therefore I write these things being absent, etc..] Assuring them of his power and authority, expressing his concern for their welfare, earnestly desiring that they might be kept from evil, and perform good works; and that they might be in a more honourable, orderly, and comfortable situation, whilst he was absent from them, and before he came among them: lest, being present, I should use sharpness; meaning severe reproofs and censures, or rather the exercise of the apostolic rod: according to the power the Lord haft given me, to edification, and not to destruction; by striking persons dead, as Ananias and Sapphira were by Peter; or by delivering them up to Satan to have corporeal punishment…”

“Therefore--because I wish the "sharpness" to be in my letters rather than in deeds [CHRYSOSTOM]. edification . . . not to destruction--for building up . . . not for casting down. To "use sharpness" would seem to be casting down, rather than building up; therefore he prefers not to have to use it.”

“Therefore I write these things ... - This is a kind of apology for what he had said, and especially for the apparently harsh language which he had felt himself constrained to use. He had reproved them; he had admonished them of their faults; he had threatened punishment, all of which was designed to prevent the necessity of severe measures when he should be with them. Lest being present I should use sharpness - In order that when I come I may not have occasion to employ severity; see the sentiment explained in the note on 2 Corinthians 10:2. According to the power ... - That I may not use the power with which Christ has invested me for maintaining discipline in his church. The same form of…”

“13:10 Paul did not want to deal severely with the Corinthians by punishing the offenders (12:21). He wanted to exercise his apostolic authority in a positive way, but his ministry required him both to strengthen and to tear . . . down (cp. Jer 1:10). • to strengthen you (or to build you up): This is Paul’s favorite expression for a stable Christian community (see Eph 4:12), in which the Lord lives both in and among the believers (2 Cor 13:5).”

“I write: Co2 2:3, Co2 10:2, Co2 12:20, Co2 12:21; Co1 4:21 lest: Co2 13:2, Co2 13:8; Tit 1:13 according: Co2 10:8 2 Corinthians 13:11”