2 Corinthians10

Paul defends his apostolic authority against critics who accuse him of being bold only when absent, asserting that his spiritual warfare uses divine weapons to pull down strongholds and bring every thought into obedience to Christ. He clarifies that his authority is for edification, not destruction, and that his actions in person will match his powerful letters. Paul refuses to compare himself with those who self-commend, concluding that true glorying is in the Lord, who alone gives approval.

Paul Defends His Apostolic Authority

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And I, Paul, myself, do call upon you--through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ--who in presence, indeed am humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,
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and I beseech you , that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;
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for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war,
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for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,
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reasonings bringing down, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ,
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and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.

Judging by Outward Appearance

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The things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's;
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for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;
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that I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters,
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`because the letters indeed--saith one-- are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.'
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This one--let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, we are in deed.

Apostolic Boundaries and True Boasting

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For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,
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and we in regard to the unmeasured things will not boast ourselves, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure did appoint to us--to reach even unto you;
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for not as not reaching to you do we stretch ourselves overmuch, for even unto you did we come in the good news of the Christ,
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not boasting of the things not measured, in other men's labours, and having hope--your faith increasing--in you to be enlarged, according to our line--into abundance,
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in the places beyond you to proclaim good news, not in another's line in regard to the things made ready, to boast;
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and he who is boasting--in the Lord let him boast;
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for not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.
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