2 Corinthians 10

Paul Defends His Authority

Now ^aI, Paul, myself ^bplead with you by the ^cgentleness and forbearance of Christ—I who ^dam humble when face-to-face with you, but courageous toward you when absent! 2 But I beg that ^awhen I am present I need not act so courageously with the confidence that I consider to daringly use against ^bsome, who consider us as if we walked ^caccording to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war ^aaccording to the flesh, 4 for the ^aweapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ¹divinely powerful ^bfor the tearing down of strongholds, 5 as we tear down speculations and every ^alofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the ^bobedience of Christ, 6 and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^ayour obedience is fulfilled.
7 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. 8 For even if ^aI boast somewhat ¹further about our ^bauthority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame, 9 ¹for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his ¹personal presence is ^aweak and ^bhis ²words contemptible.” 11 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.
12 For we do not dare to classify 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. 13 But we will not boast ^abeyond our measure, but ¹^bwithin the measure of the area of influence which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach you, (for ^awe were the first to come even as far as you in the ^bgospel of Christ), 15 not boasting ^abeyond our measure in ^bother men’s labors, but having the hope—that as ^cyour faith grows—to be ^denlarged even more by you ¹within our area of influence, 16 so as to ^aproclaim the gospel even to ^bthe regions beyond you, and not to boast ¹^cin what has been accomplished in the area of influence of another. 17 But ^ahe who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the one who ^acommends himself that is approved, but the one ^bwhom the Lord commends.

« 2 Cor 92 Cor 102 Cor 11 »