Jubilee Bible 2000 JUB
New International Version NIV
1 Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and clemency of the Christ (who in presence <em>am</em> low among you, but being absent am bold toward you)
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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 but I beseech <em>you</em> that I <em>need</em> not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I am esteemed to use against some who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.
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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 walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh
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For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare <em>are</em> not carnal, but mighty through God for the destruction of strong holds),
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The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 casting down reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ
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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 having a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
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And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
7 Do ye look on things after the <em>outward</em> appearance? If anyone trusts to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that as he <em>is</em> Christ’s, even so we <em>are</em> Christ’s.
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You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.
8 For though I should glory somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed,
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So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
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I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
10 For <em>his</em> letters, they say, <em>are</em> weighty and powerful; but <em>his</em> bodily presence <em>is</em> weak, and <em>his</em> speech contemptible.
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For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
11 Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such <em>will we be</em> also in deed when we are present.
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Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12 For we dare not mix ourselves in with or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they do not understand that they are measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves.
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We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
13 But we will not glory of things beyond <em>our</em> measure, but according to the measure of the rule, of the measure which God has distributed to us, to reach even unto you.
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We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.
14 For we do not overextend ourselves by reaching unto you; for we are also come unto you with the gospel of the Christ,
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We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.
15 Not glorying of things beyond <em>our</em> measure in the labours of others; but having hope of the increase of your faith, that we shall be abundantly enlarged among you according to our rule,
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Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand,
16 to preach the gospel in the <em>regions</em> beyond you, without <em>entering into</em> the measure {Gr. rule} of another to glory in that which has already been made ready.
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so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory.
17 But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
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But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
18 For <em>it is</em> not he that commends himself <em>that</em> is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
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For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.