1Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. 2But I implore you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence with which I intend on showing against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh; 4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for the tearing down of strongholds, 5throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

7Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's. 8For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed, 9that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. 10For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised." 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 13But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. 14For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ, 15not boasting excessively in the work done by others, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, 16so as to proclaim the Good News even to the regions beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. 17But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord." 18For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.