Why does Paul write his warning before the anticipated visit?

Paul announces that this is the third time he is coming and that every word shall stand by two or three witnesses. He recalls his earlier warning and now, while absent, warns those who sinned before and all the rest: if he comes again, he will not spare. He asks whether they seek proof of Christ speaking in him, who is mighty toward them. Although Christ was crucified through weakness, he lives by God’s power; Paul says that they too are weak in him but shall live with him by God’s power toward the readers.

He tells them to try themselves to see whether they are in the faith and to prove themselves. Do they not know that Christ Jesus is in them, unless perhaps they are reprobates? Paul trusts that they shall know that he and his companions are not reprobates. His prayer is that the readers do no evil: his aim is not that the ministers appear approved, but that the readers do good, even if the ministers appear as reprobates. The printed annotation explains this last usage as being without proof because there is no occasion to exercise power in punishment. This explanation belongs to the sentence about the ministers’ appearance.

They can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. They rejoice when they are weak and the readers strong, and pray for the readers’ perfection. Paul writes while absent so that, when present, he may not deal more severely according to the power the Lord gave him for edification rather than destruction. His purpose is to build them up; the threatened visit remains prospective.

He closes by telling the brethren to rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind and have peace, and says that the God of peace and love will be with them. They are to greet one another with a holy kiss, and all the saints greet them. The closing blessing names the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the charity of God and the communication of the Holy Ghost with them all.