2 Korintus 10:11

10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say ¹  by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

2 Korintus 10:1

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you ²  personally ³  by the meekness and gentleness ⁴  of Christ (I who am meek ⁵  when present among ⁶  you, but am full of courage ⁷  toward you when away!) –

2 Korintus 13:2

13:2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, ⁸ 

2 Korintus 13:10

13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive ⁹  I may not have to deal harshly with you ¹⁰  by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

[10:11]  ¹ tn Grk “what we are in word.”

[10:1]  ² tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.

[10:1]  ³ tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.

[10:1]  ⁴ tn Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1): Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment (2 Cor 10:1-13:10)” (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1998), argues for this alternative translation for three main reasons: (1) When the two Greek nouns πραΰτης and ἐπιείκεια (prauth" and ejpieikeia) are used together, 90% of the time the nuance is “leniency and clemency.” (2) “Leniency and clemency” has a military connotation, which is precisely what appears in the following verses. (3) 2 Cor 10-13 speaks of Paul’s sparing use of his authority, which points to the nuance of “leniency and clemency.”

[10:1]  ⁵ tn Or “who lack confidence.”

[10:1]  ⁶ tn Or “when face to face with.”

[10:1]  ⁷ tn Or “but bold.”

[13:2]  ⁸ tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[13:10]  ⁹ tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”

[13:10]  ¹⁰ tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.