Chapter 10

Paul Describes Himself

1 Now aI, Paul, myself burge you by the cmeekness and gentleness of Christ—I who dam 1meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!

2 I ask that awhen I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against bsome, who regard us as if we walked caccording to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war aaccording to the flesh,

4 for the aweapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but 1divinely powerful bfor the destruction of fortresses.

5 We are destroying speculations and every alofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the bobedience of Christ,

6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ayour obedience is complete.

7 1aYou are looking at 2things as they are outwardly. bIf anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, cso also are we.

8 For even if aI boast somewhat 1further about our bauthority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,

9 1for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his 1personal presence is aunimpressive and bhis speech contemptible.”

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

12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with 1some of those who acommend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast abeyond our measure, but 1bwithin the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for awe were the first to come even as far as you in the bgospel of Christ;

15 not boasting abeyond our measure, that is, in bother men’s labors, but with the hope that as cyour faith grows, we will be, 1within our sphere, denlarged even more by you,

16 so as to apreach the gospel even to bthe regions beyond you, and not to boast 1cin what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.

17 But ahe who boasts is to boast in the Lord.

18 For it is not he who acommends himself that is approved, but he bwhom the Lord commends.