2 Corinthians 10

Paul defends his authority, declaring that though he walks in the flesh, he does not war after the flesh — the weapons of his warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. He warns those who accuse him of being bold only in letters that when he comes in person, his actions will match his words.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:	Now I, Paul, myself appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — I who am timid when face to face with You, but bold when away from You.
2	But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.	I beg You that when I am present I may not have to be as bold as I now intend to be against some who think we are walking according to the flesh.
3	For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:	For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
4	(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)	For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
5	Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;	We cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and we bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6	And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.	and we are ready to punish every disobedience, once Your obedience is complete.
7	Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.	Do You look on things after the outward appearance? If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let Him consider this again — that just as He is Christ's, so also are we.
8	For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:	For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority — which the Lord has given us for building You up and not for tearing You down — I would not be ashamed.
9	That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.	I do not want it to seem that I am trying to terrify You with my letters.
10	For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.	"For His letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but His bodily presence is weak, and His speech contemptible."
11	Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.	Let such a person consider this: what we are in word by letters when absent, such we will also be in deed when present.
12	For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.	For we dare not class or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13	But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.	But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but only according to the measure of the sphere which God has assigned to us — a measure that reaches even to You.
14	For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:	For we are not stretching ourselves beyond our measure, as though we did not reach to You — for we did come as far as You with the gospel of Christ.
15	Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,	We do not boast beyond our measure in the labors of other men, but we have hope that as Your faith grows, our sphere of work will be greatly enlarged among You, according to our rule,
16	To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.	so that we may preach the gospel in the regions beyond You, and not boast in another man's territory in things already prepared.
17	But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.	But He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.
18	For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.	For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.