| 1 | Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. |
| 2 | But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. |
| 3 | For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. |
| 4 | For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, |
| 5 | casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, |
| 6 | and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. |
| 7 | Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ`s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ`s, even so we are Christ`s. |
| 8 | For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed-- |
| 9 | lest I seem to terrify you by letters. |
| 10 | "For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." |
| 11 | Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. |
| 12 | For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. |
| 13 | We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us--a sphere which especially includes you. |
| 14 | For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; |
| 15 | not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men`s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, |
| 16 | to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man`s sphere of accomplishment. |
| 17 | But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord." |
| 18 | For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. |