WeBible

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 towards you:

2 - But I beseech [you], that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some, who think of 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 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 avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7 - Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusteth 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 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 to you.

14 - For we stretch not ourselves beyond [our measure], as though we reached not to 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 labors; 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.