1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the
humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in
your presence am lowly amongst you, but
being absent am bold towards you.
2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when
present, show courage with the confidence
with which I intend to be bold against
some, who consider us to be walking according
to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we
don’t wage war according to the flesh;
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not
of the flesh, but mighty before God to the
throwing down of strongholds,
5 throwing down imaginations and every
high thing that is exalted against the
knowledge of God and bringing every
thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ,
6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience
when your obedience is made
full.
7 Do you look at things only as they
appear in front of your face? If anyone
trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him
consider this again with himself, that even
as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.
8 For even if I boast somewhat abundantly
concerning our authority, which
the Lord gave for building you up and
not for casting you down, I will not be
ashamed,
9 that I may not seem as if I desire to
terrify you by my letters.
10 For, “His letters”, they say, “are
weighty and strong, but his bodily presence
is weak, and his speech is despised.”
11 Let such a person consider this, that
what we are in word by letters when we
are absent, such are we also in deed when
we are present.
12 For we are not bold to number or compare
ourselves with some of those who
commend themselves. But they themselves,
measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves with
themselves, are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond proper
limits, but within the boundaries with
which God appointed to us, which reach
even to you.
14 For we don’t stretch ourselves too
much, as though we didn’t reach to you.
For we came even as far as to you with the
Good News of Christ,
15 not boasting beyond proper limits in
other men’s labours, but having hope that
as your faith grows, we will be abundantly
enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
16 so as to preach the Good News even to
the parts beyond you, not to boast in what
someone else has already done.
17 But “he who boasts, let him boast in the
Lord.”*
18 For it isn’t he who commends himself
who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
