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 yes, I urge you{+}, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence with which 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, casting down imaginations,

5 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 will be made full.

7 You{+} look at the things that are before your{+} face. If any man trusts 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 even though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you{+} up, and not for casting you{+} down, I will 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 those who 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 to you{+}.

14 For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you{+}: for we came even as far as to you{+} in the good news of Christ:

15 not glorying beyond [our] measure, [that is,] in other men's labors; but having hope that, as your{+} faith grows, we will be magnified in you{+} according to our province to [further] abundance,

16 so as to preach the good news even to the parts beyond you{+}, [and] not to glory in another's province in regard of things ready to our hand.

17 But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

18 For [it is] not he who commends himself [who] is approved, but whom the Lord commends.