The Bible in Basic English BBE
World English Bible WEB
1 Now I, Paul, myself make request to you by the quiet and gentle behaviour of Christ, I who am poor in spirit when with you, but who say what is in my mind to you without fear when I am away from you:
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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 of good courage toward you.
2 Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh.
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Yes, I beg you, that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh
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For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;
4 (For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places);
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for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
5 Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;
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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;
6 Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control.
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and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.
7 Give attention to the things which are before you. If any man seems to himself to be Christ's, let him keep in mind that we are as much Christ's as he is.
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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 also we are Christ's.
8 For though I might take pride in our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction), it will not be a cause of shame to me:
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For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be put to shame,
9 That I may not seem to have the desire of causing you fear by my letters.
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that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.
10 For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.
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For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."
11 Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.
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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.
12 For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise.
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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.
13 We will not give glory to ourselves in over-great measure, but after the measure of the rule which God has given us, a measure which comes even to you.
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But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.
14 For we have no need to make ourselves seem more than we are, as if our authority did not come as far as to you: for we came even as far as you with the good news of Christ:
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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 in the gospel of Christ,
15 Not taking credit to ourselves for what is not our business, that is, for the work of others; but having hope that, with the growth of your faith, we may get the credit for an increase which is the effect of our work,
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not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be magnified in you according to our boundaries to abundance,
16 So that we may be able to go on and take the good news to countries still farther away than you are, and not take credit for another man's work in making things ready to our hand.
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so as to preach the gospel even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.
17 But whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord.
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But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."
18 For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.
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For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.