2Corinthians 10

Paul Defends His Authority

10Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.G1161G1473G3972G846G3870G5209G1223G4236G2532G1932G5547G3739G2596G4383G3303G5011G1722G5213G1161G548G2292G1519G52092Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.G1161G1189G3361G2292G3918G4006G3739G3049G5111G1909G5100G3588G3049G2248G5613G4043G2596G45613We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.G1063G4043G1722G4561G4754G3756G4754G2596G45614

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.G1063G3696G2257G4752G3756G4559G235G1415G2316G4314G2506G37945We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.G2507G3053G2532G3956G5313G1869G2596G1108G2316G2532G163G3956G3540G1519G5218G55476And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.G2532G2192G1722G2092G1556G3956G3876G3752G5216G5218G41377Look at the obvious facts

. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.G991G2596G4383G1536G3982G1438G1511G5547G3049G575G1438G3049G5124G3825G3754G2531G846G5547G2532G3779G2249G55478I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.G1063G2532G1437G5037G2744G5100G4055G4012G2257G1849G3739G2962G1325G2254G1519G3619G2532G3756G1519G5216G2506G153G3756G1539I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters.G3363G1380G3363G1380G5613G302G1629G5209G1223G199210For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!”G3754G1992G3303G5346G926G2532G2478G1161G4983G3952G772G2532G3056G184811Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.G3049G5108G3049G5124G3754G3634G2070G3056G1223G1992G548G5108G2532G2041G391812Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!G1063G5111G3756G1469G1469G2228G4793G1438G4793G5100G4921G1438G235G846G3354G1438G1722G1438G2532G4793G1438G4793G1438G4920G3756G492013We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.G1161G2249G2744G3780G2744G1519G280G235G2596G3358G2583G3739G2316G3307G2254G3358G2185G2532G891G521614We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.G1063G5239G3756G1438G5239G5613G2185G3361G1519G5209G1063G5348G891G5216G2532G1722G2098G554715Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.G3756G2744G1519G280G1722G245G2873G1161G2192G1680G5216G4102G837G3170G1722G5213G2596G2257G2583G1519G405016Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.G2097G1519G5238G5216G3756G2744G1722G245G2583G1519G209217As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

G1161G2744G2744G1722G296218When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.G1063G3756G1565G4921G1438G2076G1384G235G3739G2962G4921