Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageNow I, Paul, myself appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am "humble" in your presence, yet bold toward you when absent!
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GNow I myself, Sha'ul, appeal to you through the meekness and graciousness of the Messiah—I who am "lowly" when face to face with you, yet bold toward you when away!
KJV
King James VersionNow I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
BSB
Berean Standard BibleNow by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
Footnotes
The Greek parakalō spans a wide range—urge, beseech, appeal, comfort—and the diplomatic register here suits "appeal." Epieikeia denotes gracious reasonableness or magnanimous forbearance, a quality of rulers who do not insist on the full letter of their rights; F.O.G. renders it "graciousness" to keep the social register, while F.O.G. Message uses "graciousness" for its relational warmth. The word tapeinos ("lowly"), normally a virtue in the NT, is almost certainly Paul echoing his critics' taunt here—hence the scare quotes in both versions.