[1] I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I
am away!-- [2] I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show
boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who
suspect us of acting in worldly fashion. [3] For though we live in the
world we are not carrying on a worldly war, [4] for the weapons of our
warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. [5]
We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and
take every thought captive to obey Christ, [6] being ready to punish every
disobedience, when your obedience is complete. [7] Look at what is before
your eyes. If any one is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind
himself that as he is Christ's, so are we. [8] For even if I boast a little
too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not
for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame. [9] I would not seem to be
frightening you with letters. [10] For they say, "His letters are weighty
and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."
[11] Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we
do when present. [12] Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves
with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves
by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without
understanding. [13] But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to
the limits God has apportioned us, to reach even to you. [14] For we are
not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we were the
first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. [15] We do not
boast beyond limit, in other men's labors; but our hope is that as your
faith increases, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, [16] so that
we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work
already done in another's field. [17] "Let him who boasts, boast of the
Lord." [18] For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted,
but the man whom the Lord commends.
