2 Corinthians 10
10 1Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of
good courage toward you:
2yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present
show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some,
who count 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
4(for the weapons
of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting
down of strongholds),
5casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6and being in readiness to avenge
all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7Ye look at the
things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is
Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is
Christ's, so also are we.
8For though I should glory somewhat abundantly
concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not
for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:
9that I may not seem
as if I would terrify you by my letters.
10For, His letters, they say,
are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no
account.
11Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by
letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are
present.
12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with
certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are
without understanding.
13But we will not glory beyond our
measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned
to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.
14For we stretch not
ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as
far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:
15not glorying beyond
our measure, that is, in other men's labors; but having hope
that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our
province unto further abundance,
16so as to preach the gospel
even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's
province in regard of things ready to our hand.
17But he that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord.
18For not he that commendeth himself is
approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.