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
!
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
.
For though we walk in the flesh
, we do not war
aaccording
to the flesh
,
for the aweapons of our warfare
are not of the flesh
, but 1divinely
powerful
bfor the destruction
of fortresses
.
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
,
and we are ready to punish
all
disobedience
, whenever
ayour obedience
is complete
.
1 aYou 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.
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
,
1for I do not wish to seem as if
I would terrify
you by my letters
.
For they say, "His letters
are weighty
and strong
, but his 1personal
presence
is aunimpressive
and bhis speech
contemptible
."
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
.
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
.
But we will not boast abeyond
our measure
, but 1 bwithin
the measure
of the sphere
which
God
apportioned
to us as a measure
, to reach
even
as far
as you.
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
;
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,
so as to apreach
the gospel
even to bthe regions beyond
you, and not to boast
1 cin what
has been accomplished
in the sphere
of another
.
But aHE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST
IN THE LORD
.
For it is not he who acommends himself
that is approved
, but he bwhom
the Lord
commends
.