¶ Now I Paul¹ myself beseech² you by³ the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence⁴ am base⁵ among you, but being absent am bold⁶ toward you:

But I beseech you, that I⁷ may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think⁸ to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

For though we walk⁹ in the flesh, we do¹⁰ not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons¹¹ of our¹² warfare are not carnal, but mighty¹³ through God¹⁴ to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down¹⁵ imaginations¹⁶, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing¹⁷ into captivity every thought¹⁸ to the obedience¹⁹ of Christ;

And having in²⁰ a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when²¹ your obedience is fulfilled.

¶ Do ye look²² on things after the outward appearance? If²³ any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even²⁴ so are we Christ's.

For though²⁵ I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not²⁶ be ashamed:

That I may not seem as if I would terrify²⁷ you by letters.

¶ For his letters, say they²⁸, are weighty and powerful; but²⁹ his bodily presence is weak, and his³⁰ speech contemptible.

Let such³¹ an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

¶ For we dare not³² make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise³³.

But we will not³⁴ boast of things without our measure, but according³⁵ to the measure of the rule³⁶ which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

For we stretch not³⁷ ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel³⁸ of Christ:

Not boasting³⁹ of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you⁴⁰ according to our rule abundantly,

To preach⁴¹ the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line⁴² of things made ready to our hand.

⁴³But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not⁴⁴ he that commendeth himself is approved⁴⁵, but⁴⁶ whom the Lord commendeth.