2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent, am bold toward you.2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present, with that confidence wherewith I am thought to be bold, against some, who reckon us as if we walked according to the flesh.3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels,5 And every height that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ;6 And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled.7 See the things that are according to outward appearance. If any man trust to himself, that he is Christ's, let him think this again with himself, that as he is Christ's, so are we also.8 For if also I should boast somewhat more of our power, which the Lord hath given us unto edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.9 But that I may not be thought as it were to terrify you by epistles,10 (For his epistles indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible,)11 Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by epistles, when absent, such also we will be indeed when present.12 For we dare not match, or compare ourselves with some, that commend themselves; but we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves.13 But we will not glory beyond our measure; but according to the measure of the rule, which God hath measured to us, a measure to reach even unto you.14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as if we reached not unto you. For we are come as far as to you in the gospel of Christ.15 Not glorying beyond measure in other men's labours; but having hope of your increasing faith, to be magnified in you according to our rule abundantly;16 Yea, unto those places that are beyond you, to preach the gospel, not to glory in another man's rule, in those things that are made ready to our hand.17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.18 For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth.

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.