| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the causal phrase dia touto {διὰ τοῦτο | diá toû-to} ‘for this reason’, linking Paul’s motivation to his current state. The direct object tauta {ταῦτα | taû-ta} ‘these matters’ names what is being written. Circumstantial participles apōn {ἀπὼν | apṓn} ‘being absent’ and parōn {παρὼν | parṓn} ‘being present’ frame Paul’s relation to the Corinthians. The purpose conjunction hina {ἵνα | hína} ‘so that’ introduces the clause hina parōn mē apotomōs chrēsōmai {ἵνα παρὼν μὴ ἀποτόμως χρήσωμαι | hína parṓn mḕ apotó-mōs chrḗ-sō-mai} ‘so that, when present, I might not use harshness’, with the aorist middle subjunctive chrēsōmai {χρήσωμαι | chrḗ-sō-mai} ‘I might use’ plus the negative particle mē {μὴ | mḕ} conveying avoidance. The standard of action is specified by kata tēn exousian {κατὰ τὴν ἐξουσίαν | katá tḕn exousí-an} ‘according to the authority’, and the relative clause hēn ho kyrios edōken moi {ἣν ὁ κύριος ἔδωκέν μοι | hēn ho ký-ri-os é-dō-ken moi} ‘which the Lord gave me’ roots this authority in divine commission. The paired purposes eis oikodomēn kai ouk eis kathairesin {εἰς οἰκοδομὴν καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν | eis oi-ko-do-mḕn kaí ouk eis kathairesin} ‘for edification and not for destruction’ contrasts constructive intent with destructive potential. |