2 Corinthians 10
10
Paul Defends his Ministry
1I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you — I who am said to be meek and mild when I am with you, but harsh with you when I am away. By the gentleness and kindness of Christ 2I beg you not to force me to be harsh when I come; for I am sure I can deal harshly with those who say that we act from worldly motives. 3It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives. 4The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; 5we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ. 6And after you have proved your complete loyalty, we will be ready to punish any act of disloyalty.
7You are looking at the outward appearance of things. Is there someone there who reckons himself or herself to belong to Christ? Well, let them think again about themselves, because we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8For I am not ashamed, even if I have boasted somewhat too much about the authority that the Lord has given us — authority to build you up, not to tear you down. 9I do not want it to appear that I am trying to frighten you with my letters. 10Someone will say, “Paul's letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!” 11Such a person must understand that there is no difference between what we write in our letters when we are away and what we will do when we are there with you.
12Of course we would not dare to classify ourselves or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. How stupid they are! They make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and they judge themselves by their own standards! 13As for us, however, our boasting will not go beyond certain limits; it will stay within the limits of the work which God has set for us, and this includes our work among you. 14And since you are within those limits, we were not going beyond them when we came to you, bringing the Good News about Christ. 15So we do not boast about the work that others have done beyond the limits God set for us. Instead, we hope that your faith may grow and that we may be able to do a much greater work among you, always within the limits that God has set. 16Then we can preach the Good News in other countries beyond you and shall not have to boast about work already done in someone else's field.
17 #
Jer 9.24
But as the scripture says, “Whoever wants to boast must boast about what the Lord has done.” 18For it is people of whom the Lord thinks well who are really approved, not people who think well of themselves.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
II Corinthians 10
10
The Spiritual War
1Now #Rom. 12:1I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—#1 Thess. 2:7who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2But I beg you #1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Cor. 13:2, 10that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think 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#Eph. 6:13For the weapons #1 Cor. 9:7; (2 Cor. 6:7); 1 Tim. 1:18of our warfare are not carnal but #Acts 7:22mighty in God #Jer. 1:10; (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10)for pulling down strongholds, 5#1 Cor. 1:19casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6#2 Cor. 13:2, 10and being ready to punish all disobedience when #2 Cor. 7:15your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7#(John 7:24); 2 Cor. 5:12Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? #1 Cor. 1:12; 14:37If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so #(Rom. 14:8); 1 Cor. 3:23we are Christ’s. 8For even if I should boast somewhat more #2 Cor. 13:10about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, #2 Cor. 7:14I shall not be ashamed— 9lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but #1 Cor. 2:3, 4; 2 Cor. 12:7; Gal. 4:13his bodily presence is weak, and his #(1 Cor. 1:17); 2 Cor. 11:6speech contemptible.” 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority
12#2 Cor. 5:12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13#2 Cor. 10:15We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), #1 Cor. 3:5, 6for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, #Rom. 15:20in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17But #Is. 65:16; Jer. 9:24; 1 Cor. 1:31“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18For #Prov. 27:2not he who commends himself is approved, but #Rom. 2:29; (1 Cor. 4:5)whom the Lord commends.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.