Paul’s Apostolic Authority

¹ Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you — I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. ² I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold^* as I expect^* toward those who presume that^* we live according to the flesh.

³ For though we live^* in the flesh,^* we do not wage war according to the flesh.^{* 4} The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

⁷ You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does. ⁸ For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.^*

⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful,^* but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” ¹¹ Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.

¹² We do not dare^* to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence^* that God has assigned to us — a field^* that reaches even to you. ¹⁴ We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel^* of Christ.

¹⁵ Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase ^* as well^*, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.

¹⁷ Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.