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 intend 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 wage battle ^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 arguments and all ^aarrogance raised 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, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, ^cso too are we. 8 For if ^aI boast somewhat ¹more 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 want 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 Have 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 do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with ¹some of those who ^acommend themselves; but when they ²measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. 13 But we will not boast ^abeyond our measure, but ^1bwithin the measure of the ²domain which God assigned 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 people’s labors, but with the hope that as ^cyour faith grows, we will be, ¹within our ²domain, ^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 domain of another. 17 But ^aTHE ONE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18 For it is not the one who ^acommends himself that is approved, but the one ^bwhom the Lord commends.

Now ^aI, Paul, myself ^bplead with you by the ^cgentleness and forbearance of Christ—I who ^dam humble when face-to-face with you, but courageous toward you when absent! 2 But I beg that ^awhen I am present I need not act so courageously with the confidence that I consider to daringly use against ^bsome, who consider 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 tearing down of strongholds, 5 as we tear down speculations and every ^alofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the ^bobedience of Christ, 6 and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^ayour obedience is fulfilled.

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 tearing you down, 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 ^aweak and ^bhis ²words 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 do not dare to classify 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 area of influence 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 you, (for ^awe were the first to come even as far as you in the ^bgospel of Christ), 15 not boasting ^abeyond our measure in ^bother men’s labors, but having the hope—that as ^cyour faith grows—to be ^denlarged even more by you ¹within our area of influence, 16 so as to ^aproclaim the gospel even to ^bthe regions beyond you, and not to boast ^1cin what has been accomplished in the area of influence of another. 17 But ^aHE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18 For it is not the one who ^acommends himself that is approved, but the one ^bwhom the Lord commends.