1 Now I, Paul, myself exhort you⁺ by the mildness and gentleness of Christ—[I] who indeed as to presence [am] humble among you⁺, but being absent am bold toward you⁺. VP
2 Now I beg [you] that being present, [I need] not to be bold with the confidence with which I reckon to be daring toward some reckoning us as walking according to [the] flesh. VP
3 For walking in flesh, we do not wage war according to [the] flesh. VP
4 For the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful before God toward [the] tearing down of strongholds, VP
5 tearing down arguments and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ, VP
6 and having readiness within to avenge all disobedience, when your⁺ obedience shall have been fulfilled. VP
7 You⁺ are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone has been persuaded in himself to be of Christ, let him reckon this upon himself again, that as he [is] of Christ, so also [are] we. VP
8 For even if I should boast somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave [us] for building up and not for tearing you⁺ down, I will not be ashamed, VP
9 so that I might not seem as if to frighten you⁺ through the letters. VP
10 For they say, “The letters indeed [are] weighty and strong, but the presence of the body [is] weak, and the word is of no account.” VP
11 Let such a one reckon this, that such as we are in word through letters being absent, also such [we are] in deed being present. VP
12 For we do not dare to classify or to compare ourselves [with] some commending themselves. But these, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand. VP
13 But we will not boast unto the things without measure, but according to the measure of the area that God apportioned to us, a measure to reach even as far as you⁺. VP
14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as not reaching to you⁺. For we came also as far as you⁺ in the gospel of Christ, VP
15 not boasting unto the things without measure in others’ labors, but having hope [of] your⁺ faith increasing among you⁺ to be enlarged according to our area, to abundance, VP
16 so as to preach the gospel [in] the [places] beyond you⁺, not to boast in the things ready in another’s area. VP
17 But, “The [one] boasting, let him boast in [the] Lord.” VP
18 For the [one] commending himself, that [one] is not approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. VP