For this reason I write thus while absent, that when present I may not have to act severely in the exercise of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.
Basi, ninaandika barua hii nikiwa mbali, ili nitakapofika kwenu nisilazimike kuwa mkali kwenu kwa kutumia ule uwezo alionipa Bwana; naam, uwezo wa kujenga na si wa kubomoa.