Paul’s Apostolic Authority

1I Paul my selfe beseke you by the mekenesse and softnesse off Christ, which when I am present amonge you, am of small reputacion, but am bolde towarde you beynge absent. 2I beseke you that I nede not be bolde whan I am present, & to vse yt boldnesse wherwith I am supposed to be bolde, agaynst some, which repute vs as though we walked after ye flesh: 3for though we walke in the flesh, yet fighte we not after a fleshly maner. 4For the wapens of oure warre are not fleshly, but mightie before God to cast downe stroge holdes, 5wherwith we ouerthrowe ymaginacions, & euery hye thinge yt exalteth it selfe agaynst the knowlege of God, and brynge in to captiuyte all vnderstondinge to the obedience of Christ, 6& are ready to take vengeaunce on all disobedience, whan youre obediece is fulfylled.

7Loke ye on thinges after ye vtter appearauce? Yf eny man trust of himselfe yt he is Christes, let him thinke this also by himselfe, yt like as he is Christes, eue so are we Christes also. 8And though I shulde boast my selfe somwhat more of oure auctorite which ye LORDE hath geue vs to edifye and not to destroye, it shulde not be to my shame. 9This I saye, lest I shulde seme, as though I wente aboute to make you afrayed with letters. 10For the pistles (saye they) are sore and stronge, but his bodely presence is weake, and his speache rude. 11Let him yt is soche, thinke on this wyse, that as we are in worde by letters wha we are absente, soch are we also in dede whan we are present.

12For we darre not reken or compare oure selues, vnto some that prayse them selues: Neuertheles whyle they measure them selues by them selues, and holde onely of them selues, they vnderstonde nothinge. 13Howbeit we wil not boast or selues aboue measure, but onely acordinge to the measure of the rule, wherwith God hath distributed vnto vs the measure to reach euen vnto you. 14For we stretche not or selues to farre as though we had not reached vnto you. For euen vnto you haue we come with the Gospell of Christ, 15and boast not oure selues out of measure in other mens laboures: Yee and we hope whan youre faith is increased in you, that we wil come farther (acordinge to oure measure) 16and preach the Gospell vnto them that dwell beyonde you, and not to reioyse in that, which is prepared with another mans measure. 17Let him that reioyseth, reioyse in the LORDE: 18for he yt prayseth him selfe, is not alowed, but he who ye LORDE prayseth.