This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

‘God will bear with an unrepentant sinner for a long time, but not forever!’ Tom Hale

This is Paul’s final warning to the church at Corinth. If we take everything into account that he writes in these later chapters, it is evident that he doesn’t want to come to them ”with a rod of discipline” (1 Cor.4:21). See also verse 10 in this chapter. He wants their repentance. But let them be in doubt that he will come with the power and authority of Christ to discipline, if necessary. The Corinthians had been demanding proof that Paul was a true apostle of Christ. He says to them, in effect, ‘Okay, if you don’t sort yourselves out, you’ll soon see that I have the full power and authority of Christ.’

You will no doubt remember that there was this accusation in the air, that Paul was weak when with them in person, but strong in his letters when at a safe distance. But the apostle reminds them of the Easter pattern. When Jesus was crucified He appeared weak, just like other crucifixion victims. But He was raised by God’s power and lives by that power. Paul also appears weak at times, but he lives by the power of God. Although he first came to Corinth in ”weakness” (1 Cor.2:3), and has dealt with them in ”meekness and gentleness” (2 Cor.10:1), he will now come, if he has to, in the power of Christ.

Easter provides the pattern for the whole of the Christian life, and it certainly supplies the template for church discipline. For what genuine leader does not tremble at the prospect of having to ‘grasp the nettle’?