What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
With a rod, or in love. The Greek "in" is in both clauses: Is it IN the character of one using the rod that I am to come, or IN love and the spirit of meekness? (Isaiah 11:4; 2 Corinthians 13:3.) Nothing but the consciousness of superhuman power could have prompted a poor tentmaker to utter such bold words.