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 ^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.

Now ^aI, Paul, ^burge you by the ^cgentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who ^dam meek so they say when with you face to face, but bold outspoken and fearless toward you when absent! 2 I ask that ^awhen I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward ^bthose few who regard us as if we walked ^caccording to the flesh like men without the Spirit. 3 For though we walk in the flesh as mortal men, we are not carrying on our spiritual warfare ^aaccording to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4 The ^aweapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood. Our weapons are divinely powerful ^bfor the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every ^aexalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the ^bobedience of Christ, 6 being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when ^ayour own obedience as a church is complete.

7 ^aYou are looking only at the outward appearance of things. ^bIf anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, he should reflect and consider this, that just as he is Christ’s, ^cso too are we. 8 For even though ^aI boast rather freely about the ^bauthority the Lord gave us for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed of the truth, 9 nor do I want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters; 10 for they say, “His letters are weighty and forceful and impressive, but his ¹personal presence is ^aunimpressive and ^bhis speech contemptible of no account.” 11 Let such people realize that what we say by word in letters when we are absent, is the same as what we are in action when present.

12 We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who supply testimonials to ^acommend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools. 13 We, on the other hand, will not boast ^abeyond our proper limit, but will keep ^bwithin the ¹limits of our commission (territory, authority) which God has granted to us as a measure, which reaches and includes even you. 14 We are not overstepping the limits of our province, as if we did not legitimately reach to you, for ^awe were the very first to come even as far as you with the ^bgood news of Christ. 15 We do not go ^abeyond our proper limit, boasting in the work of ^bother men, but we have the hope that as ^cyour faith in Christ and His divine power continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly ^dexpanded but still within the limits of our commission, 16 so that we may ^apreach the gospel even in the ^blands beyond you, but not to boast ^cin work already accomplished in another one’s field of activity. 17 However, “^aLET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD.” Jer 9:24 18 For it is not he who ^acommends and praises himself who is approved by God, but it is the one ^bwhom the Lord commends and praises.