^{1 Ref} Now I, Paul, myself make request to you by the quiet and gentle behaviour of Christ, I who am poor in spirit when with you, but who say what is in my mind to you without fear when I am away from you:

^{2 Ref} Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh.

^{3 Ref} For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh

^{4 Ref} (For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places);

^{5 Ref} Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;

^{6 Ref} Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control.

^{7 Ref} Give attention to the things which are before you. If any man seems to himself to be Christ's, let him keep in mind that we are as much Christ's as he is.

^{8 Ref} For though I might take pride in our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction), it will not be a cause of shame to me:

^{9 Ref} That I may not seem to have the desire of causing you fear by my letters.

^{10 Ref} For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.

^{11 Ref} Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.

^{12 Ref} For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise.

^{13 Ref} We will not give glory to ourselves in over-great measure, but after the measure of the rule which God has given us, a measure which comes even to you.

^{14 Ref} For we have no need to make ourselves seem more than we are, as if our authority did not come as far as to you: for we came even as far as you with the good news of Christ:

^{15 Ref} Not taking credit to ourselves for what is not our business, that is, for the work of others; but having hope that, with the growth of your faith, we may get the credit for an increase which is the effect of our work,

^{16 Ref} So that we may be able to go on and take the good news to countries still farther away than you are, and not take credit for another man's work in making things ready to our hand.

^{17 Ref} But whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord.

^{18 Ref} For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.

^{1 Ref} Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

^{2 Ref} Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

^{3 Ref} For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;

^{4 Ref} for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

^{5 Ref} throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

^{6 Ref} and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

^{7 Ref} Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

^{8 Ref} For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

^{9 Ref} that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

^{10 Ref} For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

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

^{12 Ref} For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

^{13 Ref} But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

^{14 Ref} For we don't stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn't reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Gospel of Christ,

^{15 Ref} not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

^{16 Ref} so as to preach the Gospel even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

^{17 Ref} But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

^{18 Ref} For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.