2 Corinthians 10

Paul’s personal request for obedience

1 I, Paul, make a personal request to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m shy when I’m with you, but I’m bossy when I’m away from you!2 I beg you that when I’m with you in person, I won’t have to boss you around. I’m afraid that I may have to use that kind of behavior with those people who think we live by human standards.3 Although we live in the world, we don’t fight our battles with human methods.4 Our weapons that we fight with aren’t human, but instead they are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They destroy arguments,5 and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

6 Once your obedience is complete, we are ready to punish any disobedience.
7 Look at what is right in front of you! If anyone is sure about belonging to Christ, that person should think again. We belong to Christ just like that person.

8 Even if I went on to brag about our authority, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it. The Lord gave us that authority to build you up and not to destroy you.
9 I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to intimidate you with my letters.10 I know what some people are saying: "His letters are severe and powerful, but in person he is weak and his speech is worth nothing."11 These people need to think about this—that when we are with you, our actions will show that we are the same as the words we wrote when we were away from you.

12 We won’t dare to place ourselves in the same league or to compare ourselves with some of those who are promoting themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.
13 We won’t take pride in anything more than what is appropriate. Let’s look at the boundaries of our work area that God has assigned to us. It’s an area that includes you.14 We aren’t going out of bounds, as if our work area doesn’t extend as far as you. We were the first ones to travel as far as Corinth with the gospel of Christ.15 We don’t take pride in what other people do outside of our boundaries. We hope that our work will be extended even more by you as your faith grows, until it expands fully (within the boundaries, of course).16 We hope that our work grows even to the point of the gospel being preached in places beyond Corinth, without bragging about what has already been done in another person’s work area.17 But, the one who brags, should brag in the Lord. t

18 It isn’t the person who promotes himself or herself who is approved but the person whom the Lord commends.

2 Corinthians 10

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

1 Now I, Paul, appeal to yout personallyt by the meekness and gentlenesst of Christ (I who am meekt when present amongt you, but am full of couraget toward you when away!) –2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behavingt according to human standards.t3 For though we livet as human beings,t we do not wage war according to human standards,t4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons,t but are made powerful by Godt for tearing down strongholds.s We tear down argumentst5 and every arrogant obstaclet that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obeyt Christ.6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience,t whenever your obedience is complete.7 You are looking at outward appearances.t If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave ust for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.t9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weakt and his speech is of no account.”t

11 Let such a person consider this: What we sayt by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

Paul’s Mission

12 For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.t13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits,t but will confine our boastingt according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us,t that reaches even as far as you.14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.t15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limitst in the workt done by others, but we hopet that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expandedt among you according to our limits,t16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.ts

18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.