10 I myself, Paul, entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Messiah, I who in your presence am meek among you, but in absence am bold. 2 I beg you that I may not, when I am present, need to be bold with the confidence which I may have to show against some, who consider us to be conducting ourselves according to human standards.  3 For even though we are human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards.  4 For the weapons of our war are not physical weapons, but weapons made mighty by God for tearing down strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments  5 and all arrogrance which is exalted against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to make it obedient to the Messiah.  6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your obedience as a church is complete.
    7 You are focusing on outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Messiah, let him think again — just as he belongs to Messiah, so we also belong to Messiah!  8 For even if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed to do so.  9 I do not want you to think that I am trying to terrify you by my letters.  10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is not impressive, and as a speaker he amounts to nothing.”  11 Those who say that should consider this: what we are in words when we are absent, we will also be in actions when we are present.
    12 For we are not so bold as to number or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they show that they know nothing.  13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but only within the boundaries of the work to which God appointed us, which reaches to you.  14 For we were not over-extending ourselves, as if we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the Gospel of the Messiah.  15 And we are not boasting beyond proper limits in others’ work. But we hope that as your faith grows, our work will be expanded among you within our appointed limits.  16 Then we can proclaim the Gospel in regions beyond you, and not boast about what has already been done in another person’s area.  17 But “The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.”  18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person whom the Lord commends.