suffer the word of exhortation "Bear with the word of my exhortation." Comp. Acts 13:15. This is a courteous apology for the tone of severity and authority which he has assumed.

for "for indeed," as in Hebrews 12:29.

I have written a letter This is the only place in the N. T. (except Acts 15:20; Acts 21:25) where epistellohas this sense. Usually it means "I enjoin."

in few words "briefly," considering the breadth and dignity of the subject, which has left him no room for lengthened apologies, and for anything but a direct and compressed appeal. Or the force of the words may be "bear with my exhortation, for I have not troubled you at any great length" (comp. δι' ὀλίγων, 1 Peter 5:12). Could more meaning have been compressed into a letter which could be read aloud in less than an hour, but which was to have a very deep influence on many centuries?

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