Parallel Bible results for "2 corinthians 10"

2 Corinthians 10

Common English Bible CEB

1 I, Paul, make a personal request to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I'm shy when I'm with you, but I'm bossy when I'm away from you!

2 I beg you that when I'm with you in person, I won't have to boss you around. I'm afraid that I may have to use that kind of behavior with those people who think we live by human standards.

3 Although we live in the world, we don't fight our battles with human methods.

4 Our weapons that we fight with aren't human, but instead they are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They destroy arguments,

5 and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

6 Once your obedience is complete, we are ready to punish any disobedience.

7 Look at what is right in front of you! If anyone is sure about belonging to Christ, that person should think again. We belong to Christ just like that person.

8 Even if I went on to brag about our authority, I wouldn't be ashamed of it. The Lord gave us that authority to build you up and not to destroy you.

9 I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to intimidate you with my letters.

10 I know what some people are saying: "His letters are severe and powerful, but in person he is weak and his speech is worth nothing."

11 These people need to think about this—that when we are with you, our actions will show that we are the same as the words we wrote when we were away from you.

12 We won't dare to place ourselves in the same league or to compare ourselves with some of those who are promoting themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.

13 We won't take pride in anything more than what is appropriate. Let's look at the boundaries of our work area that God has assigned to us. It's an area that includes you.

14 We aren't going out of bounds, as if our work area doesn't extend as far as you. We were the first ones to travel as far as Corinth with the gospel of Christ.

15 We don't take pride in what other people do outside of our boundaries. We hope that our work will be extended even more by you as your faith grows, until it expands fully (within the boundaries, of course).

16 We hope that our work grows even to the point of the gospel being preached in places beyond Corinth, without bragging about what has already been done in another person's work area.

17 But, the one who brags should brag in the Lord.

18 It isn't the person who promotes himself or herself who is approved but the person whom the Lord commends.

Revised Standard Version RSV

1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I am away! --

2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of acting in worldly fashion.

3 For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war,

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

5 We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

7 Look at what is before your eyes. If any one is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that as he is Christ's, so are we.

8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame.

9 I would not seem to be frightening you with letters.

10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."

11 Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.

12 Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to the limits God has apportioned us, to reach even to you.

14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

15 We do not boast beyond limit, in other men's labors; but our hope is that as your faith increases, our field among you may be greatly enlarged,

16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's field.

17 "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."

18 For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends.