2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I myself, Paul, urge you through the gentleness and fairness of Christ — I who to your face am lowly among you, but away from you am bold toward you. [a] 2 And I beg that, when I am present, I may not be bold with the confidence with which I count on daring against some who count us as walking according to flesh. [d]

3 For though we walk in flesh, we do not wage war according to flesh — 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful for God toward the tearing down of strongholds — tearing down reasonings [e] 5 and every high thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive into the obedience of Christ, 6 and holding ourselves in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled.

7 You look at what is before your face. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him count this again with himself: that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. [f] 8 For even if I boast somewhat more abundantly about our authority — which the Lord gave for building up and not for tearing you down — I will not be put to shame, [g] 9 so that I may not seem to be frightening you off by the letters.

10 Because, he says, “The letters are weighty and strong, but the presence of the body is weak and the word counts for nothing.” [h] 11 Let such a person count this: that what we are in word through letters while absent, such we are also in deed while present.

12 For we do not dare to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand. 13 But we will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the measuring line that God apportioned to us as a measure — to reach as far as you also. [i] 14 For we are not overextending ourselves as though we did not reach to you, for we came as far as you also in the good news of Christ — 15 not boasting beyond measure in other people’s labors, but having hope that, as your faith grows, we will be made great among you according to our measuring line, into abundance, 16 to bring good news in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another’s measuring line about things already made ready.

17 But let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. [j] † 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. [k]