2 Corinthians 10

1I myself, Paul, appeal to you through the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who am humble among you face to face, but bold toward you when absent.

2But I beg you that when present I may not be bold with the confidence by which I intend to dare against some who consider us as walking according to the flesh.

3For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

4For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty before God for destroying strongholds, arguments.

5tearing down every lofty thing that rises up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to Christ's obedience

6and prepared to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

7Look at things according to appearance. If anyone is confident in himself that he belongs to Christ, let him consider this again concerning himself, that just as he belongs to Christ, so also do we.

8For even if I boast somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority—which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction—I will not be ashamed.

9so that I might not seem as if to terrify you by letters.

10For the letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11Let such a person consider this—that such as we are in speech through letters when absent, such we are also in deed when present.

12For we do not dare to rank ourselves or compare ourselves with certain ones among those who commend themselves, but they themselves measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves without understanding.

13But we will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God apportioned to us—a measure to reach even to you.

14For we do not overextend ourselves as though we do not reach you, for we have even reached you with the gospel of Christ.

15Not boasting beyond measure in others' labors, but having hope, as your faith grows among you, to be enlarged according to our rule abundantly.

16to declare good tidings to places beyond you, not to boast in another's province regarding things prepared.

17But let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

18For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but whom the Lord commends.