2Corinthians 13:7-10 Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me to edification, and not to destruction. 

‘Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.’ Paul prayed that they wouldn’t do evil that he and the other disciples may be approved by the exercise of power to punish them; Paul wanted them to do right though he appeared to be a troublemaker, a person not approved of God. Their doing right will prevent him and the other disciples to use their power of judgment; otherwise, he would have to give proof that he was approved of God (13:7-10).

‘For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.’ Paul stated to be glad to be weak if they were strong and in no need of correction.

‘I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me to edification, and not to destruction.’ Paul only wrote to them to warn them by a letter, to put them on their guard, and to lead them to put away sin, so that when he came, he would not have to use his power to their destruction.