The Spiritual War
NOW I Paul myself, beseech you through the meekness and gentleness of Christ; who in presence, am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I plead with you, that I may not need to be bold when I am present, with the courage which I consider necessary to be bold against some (which consider us, as if we walked according to the flesh):
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but powerful through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
5 Casting down imaginings, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And when your obedience is made complete: being in readiness to punish every disobedience within yourself.
Paul’s Authority
7 ¶ Do you look on things according to outward appearance? If any man trust in himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again: that, just as he is Christ’s, so we are also Christ’s.
8 For if I boast too much of our authority, which the Lord has given us for building up, and not for your tearing down, I shall not be put to shame:
9 Not that I wish to terrify you through my letters.
10 For his letters, they say, are strong and burdensome; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no value.
11 Let such a one think this: that, such as we are in word, through letters when we are absent: so we will be in the work when present also.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some, that are commending themselves; but those measuring themselves against themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, are not wise.
Limits of Pauls Territory
13 ¶ Now we will not boast of things outside our measure, rather according to the measure of the territory which God has apportioned to us, a measure also reaching as far as you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure (as though we reached not to you): for we have also come as far as you in preaching the gospel of Christ.
15 Not boasting of things outside our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, that when your faith is increased: that we shall be enlarged in you according to our territory (in abundance);
16 To proclaim the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s territory, made ready into our hand.
17 But he that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
18 For not he that commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.