The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent, am bold toward you.

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present, with that confidence wherewith I am thought to be bold, against some, who reckon us as if we walked according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels,

And every height that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ;

And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled.

See the things that are according to outward appearance. If any man trust to himself, that he is Christ’s, let him think this again with himself, that as he is Christ’s, so are we also.

For if also I should boast somewhat more of our power, which the Lord hath given us unto edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.

But that I may not be thought as it were to terrify you by epistles,

(For his epistles indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible,)

Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by epistles, when absent, such also we will be indeed when present.

For we dare not match, or compare ourselves with some, that commend themselves; but we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves.

But we will not glory beyond our measure; but according to the measure of the rule, which God hath measured to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as if we reached not unto you. For we are come as far as to you in the gospel of Christ.

Not glorying beyond measure in other men’s labours; but having hope of your increasing faith, to be magnified in you according to our rule abundantly;

Yea, unto those places that are beyond you, to preach the gospel, not to glory in another man’s rule, in those things that are made ready to our hand.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth.

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh;

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.

For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”(a)

For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Footnotes

(a)10:17 ℘ Jeremiah 9:24