2 Corinthians 13:10
in 2 Corinthians 13This 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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.
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.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 13
Commentary
13 notes on this verseTherefore I write these things - I only threaten you now, by this epistle, to put you on your guard, and lead you to reformation before I visit you that I may not then have to use sharpness, αποτομια, a cutting off, employing thus my apostolical authority to inflict punishment; a power which God has given me, rather to be employed in your edification than in your destruction.
This site's exposition
we rejoice when we are weak
on 2 Corinthians 13:9-10
The letter itself is the alternative to severity in person, written so that when I am present I will not need to be severe. Its purpose clause gives the authority's aim: for building you up.
This site's exposition
not for tearing you down
The letter is written to spare the visit. Adam Clarke notes that the word for severe means a cutting off, and reads the letter as a warning meant to bring reform first.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Is he then the same God as He who gave Satan power over the person of Job that his "strength might be made perfect in weakness? " How is it that the censurer of the Galatians still retains the very formula of the law: "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established? " How again is it that he threatens sinners "that he will not spare" them -he, the preacher of a most gentle god? Yea, he even declares that "the Lord hath given to him the power of using sharpness in their presence!"
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 356 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul shows that chastisement is a form of edification. If one or two are punished, the entire fellowship learns the lesson.
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.
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.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Having greatly frightened them and put forth threats, he now presents a justification for this. I wrote thus because I desire that the threats and severity remain only in writing and not be carried out in reality; for I will certainly punish those who have …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then, having given the admonition, he assigns the reason for it, saying, I write this while I am away from you, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe, i.e., I write these things to you in my absence to …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He could not, that is, he would not, he dared not, he had no commission to act against the truth; and it is remarkable how the apostle did rejoice in this blessed impotency: " We are glad, " says he (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints salute you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:100%@v12-14
Therefore I write these things being absent,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 2Co 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 expression is found in 2Co 10:8; see the note on that place.
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διὰ | dia | Because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | therefore | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἀπὼν | apon | being absent | G548 → | 7 times |
| γράφω, | grapho | I write, | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| παρὼν | paron | being present | G3918 → | 25 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἀποτόμως | apotomos | with severity | G664 → | |
| χρήσωμαι | chresomai | I may treat [you] | G5530 → | 11 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐξουσίαν | exousian | authority | G1849 → | |
| ἣν | hen | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κύριος | kurios | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἔδωκέν | edoken | has given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| μοι | moi | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| οἰκοδομὴν | oikodomen | building up | G3619 → | 18 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| καθαίρεσιν.¶ | kathairesin | tearing down. | G2506 → | 3 times |
διὰBecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦτοtherefore
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ταῦταthese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
ἀπὼνbeing absent
aponG548 →7 times
γράφω,I write,
graphoG1125 →189 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
παρὼνbeing present
paronG3918 →25 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἀποτόμωςwith severity
apotomosG664 →
χρήσωμαιI may treat [you]
chresomaiG5530 →11 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἐξουσίανauthority
exousianG1849 →
ἣνthat
henG3739 →1405 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κύριοςLord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
ἔδωκένhas given
edokenG1325 →412 times
μοιme
moiG3165 →1936 times
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
οἰκοδομὴνbuilding up
oikodomenG3619 →18 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
καθαίρεσιν.¶tearing down.
kathairesinG2506 →3 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 4:21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 13:2
I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2
Through
Titus 1:13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:20
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
- Titus 2:2
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.
- Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- Proverbs 27:5
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
- 1 Timothy 5:20
Through
2 Corinthians 2:3I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share…
it leads to
- Galatians 5:10
I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
- Galatians 5:10
Through
2 Corinthians 10:2I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:16–25
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
- Galatians 5:16–25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 30 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 356; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.