1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and fairness of Christ; who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2But I beseech you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I figure on being bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Christ, 6and being ready to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed; 9so that I may not seem to frighten you by letters. 10For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word through letters when we are absent, such we are also in deed when we are present. 12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God distributed to us; a measure which reaches even unto you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though not extending to you), for we also came as far as to you with the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is growing, according to our rule, being greatly enlarged to overflowing, 16in order to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another’s measure of accomplishment. 17But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.