| 1 | Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you: |
| 2 | yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh. |
| 3 | For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh |
| 4 | (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), |
| 5 | casting 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 | and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full. |
| 7 | Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ`s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ`s, so also are we. |
| 8 | For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame: |
| 9 | that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. |
| 10 | For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. |
| 11 | Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [are we] also in deed when we are present. |
| 12 | For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. |
| 13 | But we will not glory beyond [our] measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you. |
| 14 | For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ: |
| 15 | not glorying beyond [our] measure, [that is,] in other men`s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto [further] abundance, |
| 16 | so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, [and] not to glory in another`s province in regard of things ready to our hand. |
| 17 | But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. |
| 18 | For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. |
