ways. ‘The work of the shepherd’, notes Tidball (1997: 48), ‘involved as much toughness as tenderness, as much courage as comfort.’ The apostle Paul lets the Corinthians choose which posture he will take when he comes: ‘What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod,2 or with love and a spirit of gentleness?’ (1 Cor. 4:21 NASB) The second point is closely related. Bad or ‘false’ shepherds are those who use their position to serve their own needs. They forget whose flock they serve. Contrast Jacob,