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| 1 | 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: |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: |
| 4 | (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) |
| 5 | 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; |
| 6 | And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. |
| 7 | 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. |
| 8 | 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: |
| 9 | 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. |
| 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. |
