SECOND CORINTHIANS

Second Corinthians 10

1 ¶ Now for myself I, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who appear meek when among you, but bold toward you when I am away:

2 I now plead with you, that when I come I may not have to be as strong with you, as I expect to be with some, who think that we live according to the flesh.

3 For even though we live in the flesh, we do not carry on our war according to the flesh:

4 For the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world, but through God they have the power to break down strongholds;

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6 And we are ready to punish all rebellion, once you are fully compliant.

7 ¶ Keep your eyes on what you know to be right. If anyone is confident in his own mind that he belongs to Christ, let him remind himself, that as he is Christ’s, so are we.

8 For if I boast of something beyond that, namely of the authority that the Lord has given us for your edification, not for your destruction, I will not appear to be ashamed:

9 That I may not seem to be using letters to frighten you.

10 For some say, his letters are weighty and powerful; but his physical presence is weak, and his speech unimpressive.

11 Let such people realize, that, what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will also be in deed when we are present.

12 ¶ For we would not dare to compare ourselves with, or place ourselves in the number of, those who commend themselves: but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

13 But we are not going to boast of things that no one can verify, but only of the work God has assigned to us, a work that reaches even to you.

14 For we are not stretching ourselves, as though our work did not extend to you: for we were the first to come to you preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Neither do we boast of things beyond our limits, that is, of work done by others; but our hope is that as your faith increases, our work among you will be greatly enlarged,

16 So that we may preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another man’s field.

17 But let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.

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