What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
The verse sets before the church two different ways of coming: with a rod for correction, or in love and in the spirit of meekness. The visit was delayed because arriving at once would have forced a crisis requiring open reproof, and stubborn resistance to that reproof could have brought God's power to bear against the evildoers. A letter was sent first to lay bare the wrongdoing, to lead to repentance, and to move the church itself to act against those disgracing it. Correction was not the desired end, for the hope was that once the evil was put away the coming could be one of love, approval, and meekness.
The same choice warns that the Lord may come with a rod to correct, to show people that they need a higher spiritual experience before they are fit for fellowship with the heavenly family.
The verse sets before the church two different ways of coming: with a rod for correction, or in love and in the spirit of meekness. The visit was delayed because arriving at once would have forced a crisis requiring open reproof, and stubborn resistance to that reproof could have brought God's power to bear against the evildoers. A letter was sent first to lay bare the wrongdoing, to lead to repentance, and to move the church itself to act against those disgracing it. Correction was not the desired end, for the hope was that once the evil was put away the coming could be one of love, approval, and meekness.
The same choice warns that the Lord may come with a rod to correct, to show people that they need a higher spiritual experience before they are fit for fellowship with the heavenly family.