Dual Panel1Now<1161> I, Paul<3972>, myself<846> urge<3870> you by the meekness<4240> and gentleness<1932> of Christ<5547>--I who<3739> am meek<5011> when face<4383> to face<4383> with you, but bold<2292> toward<1519> you when absent<548>!
2I ask<1189> that when I am present<3918> I need not be bold<2292> with the confidence<4006> with which<3739> I propose<3049> to be courageous<5111> against<1909> some<5100>, who regard<3049> us as if<5613> we walked<4043> according<2596> to the flesh<4561>.
3For though we walk<4043> in the flesh<4561>, we do not war<4754> according<2596> to the flesh<4561>,
4for the weapons<3696> of our warfare<4752> are not of the flesh<4559>, but divinely<2316> powerful<1415> for the destruction<2506> of fortresses<3794>.
5We are destroying<2507> speculations<3053> and every<3956> lofty<5313> thing<5313> raised<1869> up against<2596> the knowledge<1108> of God<2316>, and we are taking<163> every<3956> thought<3540> captive<163> to the obedience<5218> of Christ<5547>,
6and we are ready<2092> to punish<1556> all<3956> disobedience<3876>, whenever<3752> your obedience<5218> is complete<4137>.
7You are looking<991> at things as they are outwardly<2596><4383>. If<1487> anyone<5100> is confident<3982> in himself<1438> that he is Christ's<5547>, let him consider<3049> this<3778> again<3825> within<1909> himself<1438>, that just<2531> as he is Christ's<5547>, so<3779> also<2532> are we.
8For even<5037> if<1437> I boast<2744> somewhat<5100> further<4053> about<4012> our authority<1849>, which<3739> the Lord<2962> gave<1325> for building<3619> you up and not for destroying<2506> you, I will not be put<153> to shame<153>,
9for I do not wish to seem<1380> as if<302> I would terrify<1629> you by my letters<1992>.
10For they say<5346>, "His letters<1992> are weighty<926> and strong<2478>, but his personal<4983> presence<3952> is unimpressive<772> and his speech<3056> contemptible<1848>."
11Let such<5108> a person<5108> consider<3049> this<3778>, that what<3634> we are in word<3056> by letters<1992> when absent<548>, such<5108> persons<5108> we are also<2532> in deed<2041> when present<3918>.
12For we are not bold<5111> to class<1469> or<2228> compare<4793> ourselves<1438> with some<5100> of those<3588> who commend<4921> themselves<1438>; but when they measure<3354> themselves<1438> by themselves<1438> and compare<4793> themselves<1438> with themselves<1438>, they are without<3756> understanding<4920>.
13But we will not boast<2744> beyond<1519><280> our measure<280>, but within<2596> the measure<3358> of the sphere<2583> which<3739> God<2316> apportioned<3307> to us as a measure<3358>, to reach<2185> even<2532> as far<891> as you.
14For we are not overextending<5239> ourselves<1438>, as if<5613> we did not reach<2185> to you, for we were the first<5348> to come<5348> even<2532> as far<891> as you in the gospel<2098> of Christ<5547>;
15not boasting<2744> beyond<1519><280> our measure<280>, that is, in other<245> men's<245> labors<2873>, but with the hope<1680> that as your faith<4102> grows<837>, we will be, within<2596> our sphere<2583>, enlarged<3170> even<1519> more<4050> by you,
16so<1519> as to preach<2097> the gospel<2097> even to the regions beyond<5238> you, and not to boast<2744> in what<2092> has been accomplished<2092> in the sphere<2583> of another<245>.
17But HE WHO BOASTS<2744> IS TO BOAST<2744> IN THE LORD<2962>.
18For it is not he who commends<4921> himself<1438> that is approved<1384>, but he whom<3739> the Lord<2962> commends<4921>.