1 N ow I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentleness and consideration of Christ who lowly enough when among you face to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken) to you when absent from you!

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2 I entreat you when I do come that I may not boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh.

But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 F or though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 F or the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

5 r efute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

6 B eing in readiness to punish every disobedience, when your own submission and obedience are fully secured and complete.

and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Reality of Paul’s Authority

7 L ook at which is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him reflect and remind himself that even as he is Christ’s, so too are we.

Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.

8 F or even though I boast rather freely about our power and authority, which the Lord gave for your upbuilding and not for demolishing you, yet I shall not be put to shame,

For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—

9 N either would I seem to be overawing or frightening you with my letters;

lest I seem to terrify you by letters.

10 F or they say, His letters are weighty and impressive and forceful and telling, but his personality and bodily presence are weak, and his speech and delivery are utterly contemptible (of no account).

“For his letters,” they say, “ are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

11 L et such people realize that what we say by letters when we are absent, also into deeds when we are present—

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. Limits of Paul’s Authority

12 N ot that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 W e, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you.

We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

14 F or we are not overstepping the limits of our province and stretching beyond our ability to reach, as though we reached not (had no legitimate mission) to you, for we were to come even as far as to you with the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.

For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

15 W e do not boast therefore, beyond our proper limit, over other men’s labors, but we have the hope and confident expectation that as your faith continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within the limits of our commission,

not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

16 S o that preach the Gospel in lands beyond you, without making a boast of work already done in another sphere of activity.

to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

17 H owever, let him who boasts and glories boast and glory in the Lord.

But “he who glories, let him glory in the L ord.”

18 F or not who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but whom the Lord accredits and commends.

For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.