2 Corinthians 10

1 But as for me Paul, I entreat you by the gentleness and self-forgetfulness of Christ--I who when among you have not an imposing personal presence, but when absent am fearlessly outspoken in dealing with you.

Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble-heartedness and selflessness of Christ - Paul who "in your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is absent" -

2 I beseech you not to compel me when present to make a bold display of the confidence with which I reckon I shall show my 'courage' against some who reckon that we are guided by worldly principles.

I beseech you, and I say, do not make me show my boldness, when I come in the boldness with which I think I shall show my courage against some who think that I am walking on the low level of the flesh.

3 For, though we are still living in the world, it is no worldly warfare that we are waging.

Though I do walk on the low level of the flesh, I do not make war as the flesh does;

4 The weapons with which we fight are not human weapons, but are mighty for God in overthrowing strong fortresses.

for the weapons of my warfare are not weapons of the flesh, but mighty for God, in pulling down all fortresses.

5 For we overthrow arrogant 'reckonings,' and every stronghold that towers high in defiance of the knowledge of God, and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ;

For I pull down imaginations and every crag that lifts itself against the knowledge of God. And I carry every thought away into captivity and subjection to Christ;

6 while we hold ourselves in readiness to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as ever you as a Church have fully shown your obedience.

and I am fully prepared to punish every act of disobedience, when once your submission has been put beyond question.

7 Is it outward appearances you look to? If any man is confident as regards himself that he specially belongs to Christ, let him consider again and reflect that just as he belongs to Christ, so also do we.

Look these facts in the face. If any man is fully persuaded as regards himself that he belongs to Christ, let him consider again with himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also am I.

8 If, however, I were to boast more loudly of our Apostolic authority, which the Lord has given us that we may build you up, not pull you down, I should have no reason to feel ashamed.

If, however, I were to boast more loudly concerning the authority which the Lord gave me (not to cast you down, but to build you up), I should have no cause for shame.

9 Let it not seem as if I wanted to frighten you by my letters.

Let it not seem as if I were overawing you with my letters.

10 For they say "His letters are authoritative and forcible, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and as for eloquence, he has none."

"His letters indeed," says one, "are mighty and forcible, but his personality is weak, and his speech contemptible."

11 Let such people take this into their reckoning, that whatever we are in word by our letters when absent, the same are we also in act when present.

Let such a man assure himself that my actions, when I am present, will be just like my words in my letters when I am absent.

12 For we have not the 'courage' to rank ourselves among, or compare ourselves with, certain persons distinguished by their self-commendation. Yet they are not wise, measuring themselves, as they do, by one another and comparing themselves with one another.

I have not indeed the audacity to class myself among, or compare myself with, certain of the self-commenders; yet they are not wise in measuring themselves by one another and in comparing themselves with one another.

13 We, however, will not exceed due limits in our boasting, but will keep within the limits of the sphere which God has assigned to us as a limit, which reaches even to you.

I, however, will not indulge in undue boasting, but will confine it within the limits of the sphere to which God has assigned me - a sphere which reaches even to you.

14 For there is no undue stretch of authority on our part, as though it did not extend to you. We pressed on even to Corinth, and were the first to proclaim to you the Good News of the Christ.

For I am not overstepping the limits of my authority, as though I reached you not; since I have already come even as far as Corinth to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

15 We do not exceed our due limits, and take credit for other men's labours; but we entertain the hope that, as your faith grows, we shall gain promotion among you--still keeping within our own sphere--promotion to a larger field of labour,

I am not "boasting beyond measure in the labors of others," but it is my hope that, as your faith goes on increasing among yourselves, by the enlargement of my appointed limits,

16 and shall tell the Good News in the districts beyond you, not boasting in another man's sphere about work already done by him.

I may carry the gospel to countries beyond you; and not be boasting of work made ready to my hand within another man’s limit.

17 But "whoever boasts, let his boast be in the Lord."

Meanwhile. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.

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

For a man is proved worthy, not by his self-commendation, but when he is commended by the Lord.