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: in presence: or, in outward appearance
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. think: or, reckon
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;) through God: or, to God
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; imaginations: or, reasonings
6 And having in a readiness to punish 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. say they: Gr. saith he
11 Let such a person 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. are…: or, understand it not
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. rule: or, line
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 labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, enlarged…: or, magnified in you
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. line: or, rule
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.