2 Corinthians Chapter 10
1 Now I Paul urge you with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. In your presence I am small⁺ among you, but being absent I am bold toward you.
2 But I exhort⁺ you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not worldly⁺, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and
6 having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Are you looking at things according to their outward appearance? If any trust themselves that they are Christ's then let them think about this again: As they are Christ's, so also are we Christ's.
8 For even though I boast more about the authority that the Lord has given to us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.
9 May it not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.
10 For they say letters are weighty and powerful, but bodily presence weak and speech contemptible.
11 Rather let one think that as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. Those who measure themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without measure, but rather according to the measure of the rule that God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.
14 For we do not stretch ourselves beyond our measure as though we did not reach to you, for we have come as far as to you also in proclaiming⁺ the Gospel of Christ.
15 We are not boasting of things without measure. But our measure is not from other men's labors, but having hope that when your faith is increased, we shall be abundantly enlarged by you according to our rule~.
16 We desire to proclaim⁺ the Gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
17 But whoever rejoices⁺, let them rejoice⁺ in the Lord.
18 For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. Proverbs 27:2