Dual Panel1Now <1161> I <1473>, Paul <3972>, appeal <3870> to you <5209> personally by <1223> the meekness <1932> and <2532> gentleness <4240> of Christ <5547> (I who am meek <5011> when <3739> present <2596> <4383> among <1722> you <5213>, but <1161> am full of courage <2292> toward <1519> you <5209> when away <548>!)–
2now I ask <1189> that when I am present <3918> I may not <3361> have to be bold <2292> with the confidence <4006> that <3739> (I expect <3049>) I will dare <5111> to use against <1909> some <5100> who consider <3049> us <2248> to be behaving <4043> according to <2596> human standards <4561>.
3For <1063> though we live <4043> as <1722> human beings <4561>, we do <4754> not <3756> wage war <4754> according to <2596> human standards <4561>,
4for <1063> the weapons <3696> of our <2257> warfare <4752> are not <3756> human weapons <4559>, but <235> are made powerful <1415> by God <2316> for <4314> tearing down <2506> strongholds <3794>. We tear down arguments
5and <2532> every <3956> arrogant obstacle <5313> that is raised up <1869> against <2596> the knowledge <1108> of God <2316>, and <2532> we take <163> every <3956> thought <3540> captive <163> to make it obey <5218> Christ <5547>.
6We are <2192> also <2532> ready <2092> to punish <1556> every <3956> act of disobedience <3876>, whenever <3752> your <5216> obedience <5218> is complete <4137>.
7You are looking at <991> outward <2596> appearances <4383>. If <1487> anyone <5100> is confident <3982> that he <1438> belongs <1510> to Christ <5547>, he should reflect <3049> on <1909> this <5124> again <3825>: Just as <2531> he <846> himself belongs to Christ <5547>, so <3779> too <2532> do we <2249>.
8For <1063> if <1437> I boast <2744> somewhat <4053> more about <4012> our <2257> authority <1849> that <3739> the Lord <2962> gave <1325> us for <1519> building <3619> you up <3619> and <2532> not <3756> for <1519> tearing <2506> you <5216> down <2506>, I will <153> not <3756> be ashamed <153> of doing so.
9I do not <3361> want to seem as though <1380> I am trying to terrify <1629> you <5209> with <1223> my letters <1992>,
10because <3754> some say <5346>, “His letters <1992> are weighty <926> and <2532> forceful <2478>, but <1161> his physical <4983> presence <3952> is weak <772> and <2532> his speech <3056> is of no account <1848>.”
11Let <3049> such <5108> a person consider <3049> this <5124>: What <3634> we say <1510> <3056> by <1223> letters <1992> when <548> we are absent <548>, we also <2532> are in actions <2041> when <3918> we are present <3918>.
12For <1063> we would <5111> not <3756> dare <5111> to classify <1469> or <2228> compare <4793> ourselves <1438> with some <5100> of those who recommend <4921> themselves <1438>. But <235> when <3354> they <846> measure <3354> themselves <1438> by themselves <1438> and <2532> compare <4793> themselves <1438> with themselves <1438>, they are <4920> without <3756> understanding <4920>.
13But <1161> we <2249> will <2744> not <3756> boast <2744> beyond <1519> certain limits <280>, but <235> will confine our boasting according to <2596> the limits <3358> of the work to which <3739> God <2316> has appointed us <2254>, that reaches <2185> even <2532> as far as <891> you <5216>.
14For <1063> we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not <3361> reach as far as you <5209>, because <1063> we were the first to reach <5348> as far as you <5216> with <1722> the gospel <2098> about Christ <5547>.
15Nor <3756> do <2744> we boast <2744> beyond certain limits <280> in the work <2873> done by <1722> others <245>, but we hope <1680> that as your <5216> faith <4102> continues to grow <837>, our work may be greatly <3170> expanded <4050> among <1722> you <5213> according to <2596> our <2257> limits,
16so that <1519> we may preach the gospel <2097> in the regions that lie beyond <5238> you <5216>, and not <3756> boast <2744> of <1519> work already done <2092> in <1722> another person’s <245> area <2583>.
17But <1161> the one who boasts <2744> must boast <2744> in <1722> the Lord <2962>.
18For <1063> it is not <3756> the person who commends <4921> himself <1438> who <1565> is <1510> approved <1384>, but <235> the person <3739> the Lord <2962> commends <4921>.