1Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Messiah, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you: 2indeed, I beg you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence with which I count to be bold against some, who regard 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 Messiah; 6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full. 7You look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusts in himself that he is Messiah’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Messiah’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 those who 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 to you. 14For we do not overextend ourselves, as though we did not reach to you: for we came even as far as to you in the gospel of Messiah: 15not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors; but having hope that, as your faith grows, we shall be magnified in you according to our province to further abundance, 16so as to preach the gospel even to the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another’s province in regard to things ready to our hand. 17But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.