1 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 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 For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh

4 (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 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 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 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 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 That I may not seem to have the desire of causing you fear by my letters.

10 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 But whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord.

18 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 But I myself, Paul, entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ, who, as to appearance, {when present} {am} mean among you, but absent am bold towards you;

2 but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh.

3 For walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh.

4 For the arms of our warfare {are} not fleshly, but powerful according to God to {the} overthrow of strongholds;

5 overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ;

6 and having in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience shall have been fulfilled.

7 Do ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he {is} of Christ, so also {are} we.

8 For and if I should boast even somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord has given {to us} for building up and not for your overthrowing, I shall not be put to shame;

9 that I may not seem as if I was frightening you by letters:

10 because his letters, he says, {are} weighty and strong, but his presence in the body weak, and his speech naught.

11 Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters {when} absent, such also present in deed.

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not intelligent.

13 Now *we* will not boast out of measure, but according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure has apportioned to us, to reach to you also.

14 For we do not, as not reaching to you, overstretch ourselves, (for we have come to you also in the glad tidings of the Christ;)

15 not boasting out of measure in other people's labours, but having hope, your faith increasing, to be enlarged amongst you, according to our rule, yet more abundantly

16 to announce the glad tidings to that {which is} beyond you, not to be boasting in another's rule of things made ready to hand.

17 But he that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.

18 For not *he* that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.