But I beseech you... — There is, of course, an implied warning, almost a menace, in the entreaty. He would fain be spared the necessity for boldness when he and those of whom he speaks meet face to face; but if the necessity comes it will be the worse for them. They “reckon” him as walking “after the flesh,” with low and selfish aims and tortuous arts. (Comp. 2 Corinthians 1:17; Romans 8:12; 1 Corinthians 1:26.) He “reckons” that he has daring enough to confront those who take that estimate of him.

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