Αὐτὸς δὲ ἐγὼ Παῦλος παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς διὰ τῆς πραότητος καὶ ἐπιεικείας τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς κατὰ πρόσωπον μὲν ταπεινὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀπὼν δὲ θαρρῶ εἰς ὑμᾶς· (2 Corinthians 10:1)
Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the gentleness and clemency of Christ — who in person is humble among you, but being absent am bold toward you,
Αὐτὸς δὲ ἐγὼ Παῦλος: A Stacked Emphasis
The phrase Αὐτὸς δὲ ἐγὼ Παῦλος layers three elements of personal identity: αὐτὸς (“I myself”), ἐγὼ (explicit personal pronoun), and Παῦλος (proper name). All are in the nominative singular, and together they create a tone of personal gravity and pastoral urgency. The conjunction δὲ offers a mild shift or contrast — likely from the previous section’s tone. This kind of self-introduction is rare and purposeful: Paul steps forward not as an abstract teacher but as a personally invested apostle facing accusation.
παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς: Entreaty, Not Command
The verb παρακαλῶ (“I urge”) is present active indicative, first person singular. It expresses ongoing, personal appeal — not forceful command. The object ὑμᾶς (“you”) is accusative plural, the direct target of the verb. Paul here follows a common rhetorical strategy: inviting response through appeal rather than coercion. This choice reveals his character and sets up the contrast that follows: how others perceive him versus how he actually appeals.
διὰ τῆς πραότητος καὶ ἐπιεικείας τοῦ Χριστοῦ: Gentleness as Grounds
The preposition διά with the genitive expresses means or motive: “by means of the gentleness and clemency of Christ.” Both πραότητος (“gentleness”) and ἐπιεικείας (“clemency,” or “forbearance”) are genitive singular feminine nouns. τοῦ Χριστοῦ is a possessive genitive, modifying both nouns. This is the theological anchor of Paul’s appeal: he does not speak with apostolic force, but in the manner of the Messiah’s own character. These traits — especially ἐπιεικής — are rare and rich in Greek moral philosophy, signifying mercy that tempers justice.
ὃς κατὰ πρόσωπον μὲν ταπεινὸς ἐν ὑμῖν: Perception of Presence
The relative pronoun ὃς (“who”) refers back to Paul himself. The phrase κατὰ πρόσωπον (“according to face” or “in person”) functions idiomatically — describing public appearance or physical presence. μὲν introduces the first element in a contrastive pair (μὲν…δὲ), while ταπεινὸς (“humble” or “lowly”) is a predicate adjective. ἐν ὑμῖν (“among you”) indicates spatial relation. This phrase captures how Paul was perceived when physically present: unassuming, perhaps even unimpressive — a claim his critics likely exaggerated. His use of this language may reflect their accusations verbatim, deploying irony.
ἀπὼν δὲ θαρρῶ εἰς ὑμᾶς: Perception of Absence
The participle ἀπὼν (“being absent”) is present active nominative masculine singular, from ἄπειμι (“to be away”). δὲ contrasts with μὲν, forming the rhetorical pair. The main verb θαρρῶ (“I am bold/confident”) is present active indicative, first person singular, indicating his composure and directness in letters. The prepositional phrase εἰς ὑμᾶς shows direction of boldness: toward you. This juxtaposition of ταπεινὸς (humble) with θαρρῶ (bold) captures the alleged inconsistency his opponents claimed — that Paul was meek in person but aggressive from afar.
Rhetorical Symmetry Without Chiasm
While the sentence might feel structurally balanced, it is not a formal chiasm. Instead, Paul uses rhetorical mirroring to contrast how he is perceived in two different modes: presence and absence. This is reinforced by the μὲν…δὲ pairing, which is a standard Koine construction for contrast. The syntax allows Paul to acknowledge the accusations while undermining them — he is not denying their perception but reframing it. The symmetry emphasizes not contradiction, but misinterpretation. His appeal comes not from weakness or posturing, but from a Christlike spirit others fail to recognize.
Parsing Table
| Greek Word | Form | Parsing | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| παρακαλῶ | Verb | Present Active Indicative, 1st Singular | Main verb of appeal |
| ὑμᾶς | Pronoun | Accusative Plural | Direct object of παρακαλῶ |
| διὰ τῆς πραότητος | Prepositional Phrase | διά + Genitive | Means of appeal |
| ὃς | Relative Pronoun | Nominative Masculine Singular | Subject of relative clause |
| ταπεινὸς | Adjective | Nominative Masculine Singular | Predicate adjective in first clause |
| ἀπὼν | Participle | Present Active, Nominative Masculine Singular | Temporal/adjectival participle |
| θαρρῶ | Verb | Present Active Indicative, 1st Singular | Main verb in second clause |
The Grammar of Gentleness
Paul’s grammar here reflects his message. He writes not with dominance, but with appeal — not through command, but through the character of Christ. The participles and prepositional phrases capture the accusations against him, while the syntax provides a subtle rebuttal: boldness and humility are not contradictions. They are Christlike virtues, held in tension. In this verse, the Greek itself embodies the pastoral paradox — that true authority often speaks most powerfully in the quiet grammar of gentleness.
