# make a good impression

"cause others to think well of them" or "cause others to think that they are good people"

# in the flesh

"with visible evidence" or "by their own efforts"

# to compel

"to force" or "to strongly influence"

# only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ

"so that the Jews will not persecute them for claiming that the cross of Christ alone is what saves people"

# the cross

The cross here represents what Christ did for us when he died on the cross. Alternate translation: "the work Jesus did on the cross" or "the death and resurrection of Jesus" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])