1 ¶ Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and clemency of the Christ (who in presence am low among you, but being absent am bold toward you)

Now 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!

2 b ut I beseech you that I need not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I am esteemed to use against some who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

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.

3 F or though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh

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

4 ( For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the destruction of strong holds),

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

5 c asting down reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ

refute 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),

6 a nd having a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

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

7 ¶ Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If anyone trusts to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.

Look 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.

8 F or though I should glory somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed,

For 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,

9 T hat I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

Neither would I seem to be overawing or frightening you with my letters;

10 F or his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

For 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).

11 L et such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

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

12 ¶ For we dare not mix ourselves in with or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they do not understand that they are measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves.

Not 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.

13 B ut we will not glory of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule, of the measure which God has distributed to us, to reach even unto you.

We, 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.

14 F or we do not overextend ourselves by reaching unto you; for we are also come unto you with the gospel of the Christ,

For 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.

15 N ot glorying of things beyond our measure in the labours of others; but having hope of the increase of your faith, that we shall be abundantly enlarged among you according to our rule,

We 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,

16 t o preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, without entering into the measure of another to glory in that which has already been made ready.

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

17 B ut he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

However, let him who boasts and glories boast and glory in the Lord.

18 F or it is not he that commends himself that is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

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