Now I Paul
myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness
of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but
being absent am bold toward you:
02 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when
I am present with that confidence, wherewith I
think to be bold against some, which think of us
as if we walked according to the flesh.
03 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
after the flesh:
04 (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;)
05 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
06 And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
07 Do ye look on things after the outward
appearance? If any man trust to himself that he
is Christ's, let him of himself think this again,
that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
08 For though I should boast somewhat more of our
authority, which the Lord hath given us for
edification, and not for your destruction, I
should not be ashamed:
09 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you
by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and
powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and
his speech contemptible.
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11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we
are in word by letters when we are absent, such
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 without our
measure, but according to the measure of the rule
which God hath distributed to us, a measure to
reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our
measure, as though we reached not unto you: for
we are come as far as to you also in preaching
the gospel of Christ:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure,
that is, of other men's labours; but having hope,
when your faith is increased, that we shall be
enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond
you, and not to boast in another man's line of
things made ready to our hand.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is
approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
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