Pleading By the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:1

Paul the apostle wrote to the church members in Corinth, “thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift”, and in chapter ten and verse one of Second Corinthians, Paul plead with the church members, “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” where we read:

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

The verse begins, “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, ...” Paul began with the word, “now” which means “moreover and” “I Paul myself” or “Paul himself” “beseech” which means “call to one's side, summon, admonish, exhort, entreat and beg” “you” or the church members “by the meekness” or “through the gentleness and mildness” “and gentleness” which means “mildness and fairness” “of Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Paul “summoned and entreated” the church members with a “mild, gentle and fair-minded” manner.

The verse goes on to say, “... who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:” Paul continued with the words, “who in presence” or “who face to face” “am base” which means “true, certain and sure as a low, depressed and humble spirit” “among you” or “with the church members”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “being absent” or “gone away and departed” “am bold” which means “of good courage and cheer” “toward you” or “unto the church members”. Paul was “humble” when he was with the church members, and when he was away from them, he was “courageous” in spirit toward them.

When we consider these words of Paul, we notice his demeanor among the church members in Corinth. When he was absent from them, he was “bold”, but when he was with them face to face, he was “gentle and meek”. Either way, Paul desired to bring the church members into a fuller relationship with Jesus Christ and one another. We will benefit by aligning with Paul's sentiment toward people, and when there is occasion to be “bold”, let us be so, and when we need to be “gentle”, let us “plead” with others in a manner in which we too would like to be addressed.

Next time we see Paul “implore” the church members so he, “may not be bold when I am present with that confidence”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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