Paul Describes Himself

¹Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent! ² I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit]. ³ For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. ⁴ The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.

⁷ You are looking [only] at the outward appearance of things. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, he should reflect and consider this, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we. ⁸ For even though I boast rather freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed [of the truth], ⁹ nor do I want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters; ¹⁰ for they say, “His letters are weighty and forceful and impressive, but his ^[a]personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible [of no account].” ¹¹ Let such people realize that what we say by word in letters when we are absent, is the same as what we are in action when present.

¹² We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools. ¹³ We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our proper limit, but [will keep] within the ^[b]limits of our commission (territory, authority) which God has granted to us as a measure, which reaches and includes even you. ¹⁴ We are not overstepping the limits of our province, as if we did not [legitimately] reach to you, for we were the [very] first to come even as far as you with the good news of Christ. ¹⁵ We do not go beyond our proper limit, boasting in the work of other men, but we have the hope that as your faith [in Christ and His divine power] continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly expanded [but still within the limits of our commission], ¹⁶ so that we may preach the gospel even in the lands beyond you, but not to boast in work already accomplished in another one’s field of activity. ¹⁷ However, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not he who commends and praises himself who is approved [by God], but it is the one whom the Lord commends and praises.