Dual Panel1Now I, Paul, appeal to you myself by the humility and gentleness of Christ, who _when I am present in person_ [am] humble among you, but [when I] am absent am bold toward you—
2now I ask [when I] am present [that I will] not [need] to be bold with the confidence [with] which I propose to show boldness toward some who consider us as behaving according to the flesh.
3For [although we] are living in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,
4for the weapons of our warfare [are] not merely human, but powerful to God for the tearing down of fortresses, tearing down arguments
5and all pride that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
6And _we are ready_ to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is completed.
7You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced he himself is Christ’s, he should consider this concerning himself again: that just as Christ himself [is], so also [are] we.
8For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave [us] _for building you up and not for tearing you down_ , I will not be put to shame,
9so that I do not want to appear as if I were terrifying you by my letters,
10because it is said, "His letters [are] severe and powerful, but his bodily presence [is] weak and his speech is of no account.
11Let such a person consider this: that what we are in word by letters [when we] are absent, [we will] also [be] in _actions_ [when we] are present.
12For we do not dare to classify or to compare ourselves with some who commend themselves, but [they] themselves, [when they] measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, do not understand.
13But we will not boast _beyond limits_ , but according to the measure of the assignment that God has assigned to us as a measure to reach even as far as you.
14For we are not overextending ourselves, as [if we] had not reached you, because we have reached even as far as you with the gospel of Christ,
15not boasting _beyond limits_ in the labors of others, but having hope [that as] your faith is growing to be enlarged greatly by you according to our assignment,
16so that we may proclaim the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, [and] not boast in the things accomplished in the [area] assigned to someone else.
17But "the one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."
18For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but [the one] whom the Lord commends.