1Now I, Paul, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who am meek in your presence, but bold when I am absent from you. 2I urge you, that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I expect to be bold against some, who think that we walk according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh: 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are mighty before God for the pulling down of strongholds. 5We cast down arguments, and every lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 6And we have a readiness to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 7Do you look on things according to their outward appearance? If any man trusts that he is Christ's, let him remind himself, that, as he is Christ's, so are we. 8For though I should boast somewhat freely of our authority, which the Lord has given us for building you up, and not for your destruction, I shall not be put to shame. 9I do not wish to seem to be frightening you by my letters. 10For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11Let such people realize this, that, the way we are in word by letters when we are absent, so we will also be in deeds when we are present. 12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves: but in measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, they are not wise. 13But we will not boast of things without limit, but will keep within the field which God has assigned to us, a field which reaches even to you. 14For we do not stretch beyond our limit, as though we had not reached to you: for we were the first to come as far as to you with the gospel of Christ: 15We do not boast of things without limit, that is, of other men's labours; but we have hope, when your faith has increased, that our field among you shall be greatly enlarged, 16So we may preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast of work already done in another man's field. 17But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. 18For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.