1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!
2
I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
3
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
6
And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.