1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of the Anointed One; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.
2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
5 tearing down false ideologies and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Anointed One;
6 and being in readiness to discipline all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.
7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is the Anointed One's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is the Anointed One's, so also we are the Anointed One's.
8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,
9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.
10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."
11 Let such a person consider 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 some of those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.
14 For we don't stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn't reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the gospel of the Anointed One,
15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
16 so as to preach the gospel even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.
17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."
18 For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.