2 Corinthians, Chapter 10

1. Now I Paul myself plead with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you:    2. But I plead with you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence with which I think to be bold against some, who think 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 carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of 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 having readiness to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.    7. Do you look on things according to the outward appearance? If anyone trusts to himself that he is Christ's, let him think this again to himself, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.    8. For even if I boasted somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I would not be ashamed:    9. So that I may not seem as if I am terrifying you by letters.    10. For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.    11. Let such a one think this, that, just as we are in word by letters when we are absent, so will we be also in deed when we are present.    12. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.    13. But we will not boast of things beyond our limits, but according to the limit of the sphere which God has assigned us, a limit to reach even to you.    14. For we do not stretch ourselves beyond our limit, as though we did not reach you: for we have come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:    15. Not boasting of things beyond our limit, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our sphere abundantly,    16. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready for our hand.    17. But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.    18. For not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.