Paul’s Apostolic Authority

1Now I, Paul, myself entreat you, through the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in your presence, indeed, am lowly among you; but, being absent, am bold toward you; 2but I pray that, when present, I may not show courage with the confidence with which I purpose to be bold against some who reckon us as walking according to the flesh. 3For, though walking in flesh, we are not warring according to the flesh, 4(for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God for the casting down of strongholds); 5casting down reasonings, and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 6and holding ourselves in readiness to avenge every disobedience, when your obedience is made complete.

7Ye look at things according to appearance. If anyone has trusted to himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8For, even if I glory somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority?which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for tearing you down?I shall not be put to shame; 9that I may not seem as if I would terrify you with letters; 10because, "His letters, indeed," says one, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." 11Let such a one consider this: that such as we are in word through letters, when absent; such also are we in deed, when present.

12For we are not bold to judge ourselves among, or to compare ourselves with, some of those who commend themselves; but they measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 13But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the limit which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even to you. 14For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as if not reaching to you; for we came even as far as to you in the Gospel of Christ; 15not glorying beyond our measure in other men's labors; but, having hope that, as your faith increases, we shall be enlarged among you according to our limit to further abundance, 16so as to proclaim the Gospel in the regions beyond you, not to glory in another's limit in the things made ready to our hand. 17But he that glories let him glory in the Lord; 18for not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.