| 1 | Now I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentleness and consideration of Christ [Himself; I] who [am] lowly enough [so they say] when among you face to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken) to you when [I am] absent from you! |
| 2 | I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers]. |
| 3 | For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh
and
using mere human weapons. |
| 4 | For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow
and
destruction of strongholds, |
| 5 | [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments
and
theories
and
reasonings and every proud
and
lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought
and
purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), |
| 6 | Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission
and
obedience [as a church] are fully secured
and
complete. |
| 7 | Look at [this obvious fact] which is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him reflect
and
remind himself that even as he is Christ’s, so too are we. |
| 8 | For even though I boast rather freely about our power
and
authority, which the Lord gave for your upbuilding and not for demolishing you, yet I shall not be put to shame [for exceeding the truth], |
| 9 | Neither would I seem to be overawing
or
frightening you with my letters; |
| 10 | For they say, His letters are weighty
and
impressive and forceful
and
telling, but his personality
and
bodily presence are weak, and his speech
and
delivery are utterly contemptible (of no account). |
| 11 | Let such people realize that what we say by letters when we are absent, [we put] also into deeds when we are present— |
| 12 | Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt
and
furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding
and
behave unwisely. |
| 13 | We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province
and
proper limit, but will keep within the limits [of our commission which] God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches
and
includes even you. |
| 14 | For we are not overstepping the limits of our province
and
stretching beyond our ability to reach, as though we reached not (had no legitimate mission) to you, for we were [the very first] to come even as far as to you with the good news (the Gospel) of Christ. |
| 15 | We do not boast therefore, beyond our proper limit, over other men’s labors, but we have the hope
and
confident expectation that as your faith continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within the limits of our commission, |
| 16 | So that [we may even] preach the Gospel in lands [lying] beyond you, without making a boast of work already done in another [man’s] sphere of activity [before we came on the scene]. |
| 17 | However, let him who boasts
and
glories boast
and
glory in the Lord. |
| 18 | For [it is] not [the man] who praises
and
commends himself who is approved
and
accepted, but [it is the person] whom the Lord accredits
and
commends. |
Cross references:
-
2 Corinthians 10:17 : Jer. 9:24.
|