Paul deprecates the necessity of asserting his authority and of exercising his power to punish the disobedient, vs. 1-6. He confronts his opposers with the assertion of divinely derived power, vs. 9-11. He shows that he claims authority only over those who were committed to his care, vs. 12-18.
PauPs assertion of his authority and vindicatioii of his ai^ostolic pi^erogatives.
The remarkable change in the whole tone and style of this portion of the epistle, from the beginning of the 10th chapter to near the end of the 13th, has attracted the attention of every careful reader. The contrast between this and the pre- ceding portions of the epistle is so great, that some have con- cluded that they are separate letters, written at difierent times and under different circumstances. There is no exter- nal authority for this conjecture, and it is not only unneces- sary, but inconsistent with the facts of the case. The same topics are presented, and there is in 12, 18 reference to the mission of Titus, spoken of in the earlier chapters. It is an adequate explanation of the change in question, that in chs. 1-9, Paul had in his mind, and was really addressing, the faithful and obedient portion of the church, whereas he has here in view the unreasonable and wicked false teachers and their adherents, who not only made Hght of his authority, but