| 1 | Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence {am} base 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 think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. |
| 3 | For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: |
| 4 | (For the weapons of our warfare {are} not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) |
| 5 | Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; |
| 6 | And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. |
| 7 | Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he {is} Christ’s, even so {are} we Christ’s. |
| 8 | For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: |
| 9 | That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. |
| 10 | For {his} letters, say they, {are} weighty and powerful; but {his} bodily presence {is} weak, and {his} speech contemptible. |
| 11 | Let such an 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. |
| 12 | For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. |
| 13 | But we will not boast of things without {our} measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. |
| 14 | For we stretch not ourselves beyond {our measure}, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in {preaching} the gospel of Christ: |
| 15 | Not boasting of things without {our} measure, {that is}, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, |
| 16 | To preach the gospel in the {regions} beyond you, {and} not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. |
| 17 | But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. |
| 18 | For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. |