BSB 2 COR Chapter 10

Paul’s Apostolic Authority

10 Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who [am] humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. 2 I beg [you] that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward [those] who presume that we live according to [the] flesh.

3 For though we live in [the] flesh, we do not wage war according to [the] flesh. 4 The weapons of our warfare [are] not [ the weapons ] of the flesh. Instead, [they have] divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every [act of] disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we [belong to Christ] just as much as he [does]. 8 For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building [you] up rather than tearing you down I will not be ashamed.

9 I do not want to seem to be [trying] to frighten you by [my] letters. 10 For [some] say, “[His] letters [are] weighty and forceful, but his physical presence [is] unimpressive, and [his] speaking [is] of no account.” 11 Such [people] should consider that what we are in [our] letters when absent, [we will be] in our actions when present.

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves [with] some who commend themselves. [When] they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you. 14 We are not overstepping our [bounds], as if we had not come to you. Indeed we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.

15 Neither do we boast beyond our limits in [the] labors of others. But we hope that [as] your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase [ as well ] 16 so that we can preach the gospel [in the regions] beyond you. [Then] we will not be boasting in the [work] already done in another man’s territory.

17 Rather, “{Let} him who boasts boast in [the] Lord.”[fn] 18 For it is not the [one] who commends himself [who is] approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.