Now to summarize: All of you should think alike. Be sympathetically understanding [toward one another]. Be loving toward [your] brothers [and sisters]. Be tender-hearted and humble-minded.
Do not slander one another, brothers, [for] the person who speaks against his brother, or judges him, is [guilty of] speaking against the law [of God]. But when you judge the law, you are not obeying it but acting as its judge.
But the [true] wisdom, which is from [God] above, is first of all pure, then peace-loving, patient and easily persuaded. [It is] full of mercy and produces a crop of good deeds; [it is] impartial [or, unwavering] and sincere.
So then, we should do the right thing toward every person whenever we have the opportunity, and especially toward people who are part of God’s family [i.e., those making up “the faith”].
Brothers, if any one of you is overwhelmed by a [particular] sin, those of you who are spiritually minded should [attempt to] restore such a person [to faithfulness]. But do it in a gentle way, being very careful that you yourself do not become tempted [to get involved in any sin].
Women [i.e., probably the deacons’ wives], in the same way, should be serious-minded [i.e., dignified], not gossips, [but] sober-minded [see verse 2] and trustworthy in everything.
You should let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. [Note: This “nearness” could refer to Christ’s second coming or to His nearness to His people in a spiritual sense].
For although I am free from [being accountable to] all people, I placed myself under obligation to them [as a slave], so as to win as many as possible [to Christ].
For I am afraid that somehow, when I come [to you], I might not find you the way I want you to be, and you might not find me the way you want me to be. I am afraid there might be quarrelling, jealousy, angry outbursts, factious spirits, slander, gossip, arrogance and [other] disturbances [there].
Now I Paul, who am humble [when speaking] face to face with you, but bold when I am away from you, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ [Note: This means either Paul was imitating Christ’s behavior or that the Corinthians were to do so]:
Paul said, “Brothers, I did not know that he was the head priest, for it is written [Ex. 22:28], ‘You shall not speak evil about a leader of your people.’”
But these people [i.e., the “certain men” of verse 4] speak against whatever they do not understand, and what they do understand naturally, the way animals do, proves to be their ruination.
In the same way, these people have dreams of committing physically corruptive practices; they reject authority over them [i.e., by both God and men], and speak against glorious [i.e., heavenly] beings.
[This fate will come upon] those people especially who corrupt themselves with physical
desires and despise being ruled by others. They are daring, self-willed, and are not afraid to speak against glorious beings [i.e., angels],