2 Corinthians 10:11

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,

For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.

for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,

This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you.

But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?

In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.

All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.

A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.

are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;

I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.

I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice.

Do all things without complaining and arguing,

Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.

For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;

These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.