Paul defends himself against misjudgment
1 I, Paul, encourage you through the gentleness and mercy of Christ. I am humble in person, but even when I am not with you I have confidence in you. 2 But when I am there with you, I plead with you not to make me display the confident courage I use when I must stand against those who gauge us according to the flesh. 3 For although we are in the flesh we do not conduct warfare in the flesh. 4 Our weapons of war are not fleshly but have the power of God to pull down strongholds, 5 schemes, and everything that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every scheme captive into compliance with Christ. 6 We always stand ready to avenge every lapse of attention, once your compliance is complete.
7 You are only looking on the surface. Anyone who is self-assured as belonging to Christ must consider this: If they belong to Christ, then so do we. 8 In fact, if I were to brag about all the authority the Master gave us (for building you up, not pulling you down), I can assure you that I would not be put to shame, 9 because my letters would be much more terrifying than they already are! 10 One of you says, “His letters are weighty and strong, but in person he is weak and a poor speaker.” 11 Let that person consider the fact that we are quite capable of being the same in person as we are in writing!
12 We wouldn’t dare to think we are in the same class as these people! But when they use themselves as their own standard, it shows they know nothing at all. 13 Now we will keep our bragging within reason, according to the limits God gave out to us— and you are within those limits. 14 No, we’re not out of bounds with you, because we were the first to reach you with the good news; 15 we are not taking credit for someone else’s work. Yet we hope that your faith will mature and be greatly expanded, 16 so that our range will extend beyond you— but not over the work someone else has prepared. 17 Now whoever brags must brag only about the Master. 18 It is the one the Master commends who is qualified, not those who commend themselves.