2 Corinthians 10 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Paul Defends His Authority

1 Now ^G1161 I, Paul ^G3972, myself ^G846 plead ^G3870 with you by the gentleness ^G4240 and forbearance ^G1932 of Christ ^G5547—I who ^G3739 am humble ^G5011 when face-to-face ^G4383 with you, but courageous ^G2292 toward ^G1519 you when absent ^G548!

2 But I beg ^G1189 that when I am present ^G3918 I need not act so courageously ^G2292 with the confidence ^G4006 that ^G3739 I consider ^G3049 to daringly ^G5111 use against ^G1909 some ^G5100, who consider ^G3049 us as if ^G5613 we walked ^G4043 according ^G2596 to the flesh ^G4561. 3 For though we walk ^G4043 in the flesh ^G4561, we do not war ^G4754 according ^G2596 to the flesh ^G4561, 4 for the weapons ^G3696 of our warfare ^G4752 are not of the flesh ^G4559, but [fn]divinely ^G2316 powerful ^G1415 for the tearing ^G2506 down ^G2506 of strongholds ^G3794, 5 as we tear ^G2507 down ^G2507 speculations ^G3053 and every ^G3956 lofty ^G5313 thing ^G5313 raised ^G1869 up ^G1869 against ^G2596 the knowledge ^G1108 of God ^G2316, and take ^G163 every ^G3956 thought ^G3540 captive ^G163 to the obedience ^G5218 of Christ ^G5547, 6 and are ready ^G2092 to punish ^G1556 all ^G3956 disobedience ^G3876, whenever ^G3752 your obedience ^G5218 is fulfilled ^G4137.

7 [fn]You are looking ^G991 at [fn]things as they are outwardly ^G2596 G4383. If ^G1487 anyone ^G5100 is confident ^G3982 in himself ^G1438 that he is Christ’s ^G5547, let him consider ^G3049 this ^G3778 again ^G3825 within ^G1909 himself ^G1438, that just ^G2531 as he is Christ’s ^G5547, so ^G3779 also ^G2532 are we. 8 For even ^G5037 if ^G1437 I boast ^G2744 somewhat ^G5100 [fn]further ^G4053 about ^G4012 our authority ^G1849, which ^G3739 the Lord ^G2962 gave ^G1325 for building ^G3619 you up ^G3619 and not for tearing ^G2506 you down ^G2506, I will not be put ^G153 to ^G153 shame ^G153, 9 [fn]for I do not wish to seem ^G1380 as if ^G302 I would terrify ^G1629 you by my letters ^G1992. 10 For they say ^G5346, “His letters ^G1992 are weighty ^G926 and strong ^G2478, but his [fn]personal ^G4983 presence ^G3952 is weak ^G772 and his [fn]words ^G3056 contemptible ^G1848.” 11 Let such ^G5108 a ^G5108 person ^G5108 consider ^G3049 this ^G3778, that what ^G3634 we are in word ^G3056 by letters ^G1992 when absent ^G548, such ^G5108 persons ^G5108 we are also ^G2532 in deed ^G2041 when present ^G3918.

12 For we do not dare ^G5111 to classify ^G1469 or ^G2228 compare ^G4793 ourselves ^G1438 with [fn]some ^G5100 of those ^G3588 who commend ^G4921 themselves ^G1438, but when they measure ^G3354 themselves ^G1438 by themselves ^G1438 and compare ^G4793 themselves ^G1438 with themselves ^G1438, they are without ^G3756 understanding ^G4920. 13 But we will not boast ^G2744 beyond ^G1519 G280 our measure ^G280, but [fn]within ^G2596 the measure ^G3358 of the area ^G2583 of influence ^G2583 which ^G3739 God ^G2316 apportioned ^G3307 to us as a measure ^G3358, to reach ^G2185 even ^G2532 as far ^G891 as you. 14 For we are not overextending ^G5239 ourselves ^G1438, as if ^G5613 we did not reach ^G2185 you, (for we were the first ^G5348 to ^G5348 come ^G5348 even ^G2532 as far ^G891 as you in the gospel ^G2098 of Christ ^G5547), 15 not boasting ^G2744 beyond ^G1519 G280 our measure ^G280 in other ^G245 men’s ^G245 labors ^G2873, but having the hope ^G1680—that as your faith ^G4102 grows ^G837—to be enlarged ^G3170 even ^G1519 more ^G4050 by you [fn]within ^G2596 our area ^G2583 of influence ^G2583, 16 so ^G1519 as to proclaim ^G2097 the gospel ^G2097 even to the regions beyond ^G5238 you, and not to boast ^G2744 [fn]in what ^G2092 has been accomplished ^G2092 in the area ^G2583 of influence ^G2583 of another ^G245. 17 But HE WHO BOASTS ^G2744 IS TO BOAST ^G2744 IN THE LORD ^G2962. 18 For it is not the one who commends ^G4921 himself ^G1438 that is approved ^G1384, but the one whom ^G3739 the Lord ^G2962 commends ^G4921.