2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

Now I, Paul, myself make request to you by the quiet and gentle behaviour of Christ, I who am poor in spirit when with you, but who say what is in my mind to you without fear when I am away from you:

2 But I implore you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence with which I intend on showing against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for the tearing down of strongholds,

(For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places);

5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;

6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control.

7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

Give attention to the things which are before you. If any man seems to himself to be Christ's, let him keep in mind that we are as much Christ's as he is.

8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

For though I might take pride in our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction), it will not be a cause of shame to me:

9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

That I may not seem to have the desire of causing you fear by my letters.

10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.

11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.

12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

We will not give glory to ourselves in over-great measure, but after the measure of the rule which God has given us, a measure which comes even to you.

14 For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

For we have no need to make ourselves seem more than we are, as if our authority did not come as far as to you: for we came even as far as you with the good news of Christ:

15 not boasting excessively in the work done by others, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

Not taking credit to ourselves for what is not our business, that is, for the work of others; but having hope that, with the growth of your faith, we may get the credit for an increase which is the effect of our work,

16 so as to preach the Good News even to the regions beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

So that we may be able to go on and take the good news to countries still farther away than you are, and not take credit for another man's work in making things ready to our hand.

17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

But whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord.

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

For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.