10I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—G1161G1473G3972G846G3870G5209G1223G4236G2532G1932G5547G3739G2596G4383G3303G5011G1722G5213G1161G548G2292G1519G52092I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards.G1161G1189G3361G2292G3918G4006G3739G3049G5111G1909G5100G3588G3049G2248G5613G4043G2596G45613Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards;G1063G4043G1722G4561G4754G3756G4754G2596G45614for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy argumentsG1063G3696G2257G4752G3756G4559G235G1415G2316G4314G2506G37945and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.G2507G3053G2532G3956G5313G1869G2596G1108G2316G2532G163G3956G3540G1519G5218G55476We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.G2532G2192G1722G2092G1556G3956G3876G3752G5216G5218G41377Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we.G991G2596G4383G1536G3982G1438G1511G5547G3049G575G1438G3049G5124G3825G3754G2531G846G5547G2532G3779G2249G55478Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.G1063G2532G1437G5037G2744G5100G4055G4012G2257G1849G3739G2962G1325G2254G1519G3619G2532G3756G1519G5216G2506G153G3756G1539I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters.G3363G1380G3363G1380G5613G302G1629G5209G1223G199210For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."G3754G1992G3303G5346G926G2532G2478G1161G4983G3952G772G2532G3056G184811Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present.G3049G5108G3049G5124G3754G3634G2070G3056G1223G1992G548G5108G2532G2041G391812We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense.G1063G5111G3756G1469G1469G2228G4793G1438G4793G5100G4921G1438G235G846G3354G1438G1722G1438G2532G4793G1438G4793G1438G4920G3756G492013We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you.G1161G2249G2744G3780G2744G1519G280G235G2596G3358G2583G3739G2316G3307G2254G3358G2185G2532G891G521614For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ.G1063G5239G3756G1438G5239G5613G2185G3361G1519G5209G1063G5348G891G5216G2532G1722G2098G554715We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged,G3756G2744G1519G280G1722G245G2873G1161G2192G1680G5216G4102G837G3170G1722G5213G2596G2257G2583G1519G405016so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else's sphere of action.G2097G1519G5238G5216G3756G2744G1722G245G2583G1519G209217"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."G1161G2744G2744G1722G296218For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.G1063G3756G1565G4921G1438G2076G1384G235G3739G2962G4921
Dublin, OH
