Paul Defends His Authority

1Now I, Paul, myself plead with you by the gentleness and forbearance of Christ—I who am humble when face-to-face with you, but courageous toward you when absent! 2But I beg that when I am present I need not act so courageously with the confidence that I consider to daringly use against some, who consider us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [†]divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, 5as we tear down speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled.

7[†]You are looking at [†]things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8For even if I boast somewhat [†]further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame, 9[†]for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his [†]personal presence is weak and his [†]words contemptible.” 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

12For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with [†]some of those who commend themselves, but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13But we will not boast beyond our measure, but [†]within the measure of the area of influence which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach you, (for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ), 15not boasting beyond our measure in other men’s labors, but having the hope—that as your faith grows—to be enlarged even more by you [†]within our area of influence, 16so as to proclaim the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast [†]in what has been accomplished in the area of influence of another. 17But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.