Apostle Paul stopped short of explaining his reasons for the change in travel plans at the end of verse 16. He momentarily diverted to a side point. Now he continues his explanation. Paul said he wanted to give them more time to think about what he had written in the first letter, hoping and praying they would change (1:23, 2:3-4). He did not want to lord his authority over their faith (1:24). He trusted God to work through their faith.
Paul was an apostle and the founder of the congregation in Corinth. Some would say he had every right to exercise authority over the group he founded. However, he knew Jesus’ command to his apostles, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 22:24-27)
Authority can be used to gain unquestioned authority, often through threats, lies, and rumors. Unquestionable authority is then used to obtain absolute authority. I have witnessed this in business and congregations by people who are not originally the person in top authority, but eventually gain it because the one in top authority is afraid to lose what little authority they have left. Many are destroyed by this “lording over” authority.
Neither Jesus nor the apostles practiced “lording over” authority. Instead, he taught us through word and example to serve others. My advice to you is, if you are afraid of losing power and yet claim to be a disciple of Jesus, then consider if you truly follow Jesus or chase after power.
