2 Corinthians 10

1 Now by the mildness [gentleness, meekness] and gentleness [praōtētos, humility] of Christ [the Anointed One], I appeal [plead, comfort] to you—I, Paul [the apostle], who am humble [lowly] when face to face [in presence] with you, but bold [confident] when away [absent]. word study 2 I beg [plead, earnestly request] you that when I come I may not need to be as bold [confident, courageous] as I expect toward those who presume [think, suppose] that we live [walk, conduct ourselves] according to [in line with, following] the flesh [human nature, sinful tendencies]. word study 3 For [as a reason, explaining why] though we live [walk, dwell] in the flesh [our physical bodies, human nature], we do not wage war [fight, battle] according to [in line with, following] the flesh [our sinful nature, worldly desires]. word study 4 The [spiritual] weapons of our [spiritual] warfare [struggle, conflict] are not [carnal, fleshly] the weapons of the [physical, worldly] world [system, realm]. Instead, they have divine [supernatural] power [ability, strength] to demolish [tear down, destroy] strongholds [fortresses, high places, misleading theories]. word study 5 We tear down [casting down, demolishing] arguments [reasonings, imaginations] and every presumption [high thing, lofty idea] set up [exalted, lifted up] against the knowledge [understanding, spiritual truth] of God [the one true deity]; and we take captive [bringing into captivity, making a prisoner] every thought [mind, purpose] to make it obedient [in submission, conforming] to Christ [the Anointed, the Messiah]. word study 6 And we will be ready [prepared and waiting] to punish [avenge, revenge] every act of disobedience [refusal to obey, rebellion], as soon as your obedience [submission, compliance] is complete [fulfilled, made full]. word study 7 You are looking at outward appearances [the things that are before your face, physical circumstances]. If anyone is confident [trusts in himself, has faith] that he belongs to Christ [is Christ’s, a follower of Jesus], he should remind himself [think this again, reconsider] that we belong to Christ [are Christ’s, united with Him] just as much as he does [in the same way, equally]. word study 8 For even if I boast [proudly talk, glory] somewhat excessively [abundantly, more than enough] about the authority [power, freedom to act] the Lord [God, Master] gave us for building [edifying, constructing] you up rather than tearing [casting, demolishing] you down, I will not be ashamed [feel shame, embarrassed]. word study 9 I do not want [desire or intend] to seem [appear or be regarded] to be trying [attempting or striving] to frighten [terrify or intimidate] you [as individuals or as a group] by my letters [written epistles or messages, through the letters]. word study 10 For some say, “His letters [weighty and powerful, sore and strong] are weighty [heavy with importance, burdensome] and forceful [strong, having great power], but his physical presence [bodily presence, being near] is unimpressive [weak, feeble], and his speaking [word, message] is of no account [contemptible, despised, without value].” word study 11 Such people [like this, of this kind] should consider [reckon, think carefully] that what we are [exist, have our being] in our letters [epistles, written messages] when absent [away, not present], we will be [exist, have our being] in our actions [deeds, works] when present [near, among you]. word study 12 We do not dare [are not bold enough] to classify [to judge or evaluate] or compare [to evaluate side by side] ourselves with some [with certain individuals] who commend [praise or recommend] themselves. When they measure [evaluate or assess] themselves by themselves [using their own standards] and compare [evaluate or contrast] themselves with themselves [to their own advantage], they show [demonstrate or reveal] their ignorance [lack of understanding or foolishness]. word study 13 We, however, will not boast [glory, take pride] beyond our limits [measure, boundaries], but only within the field of influence [province, area of responsibility] that God [the supreme Creator, Almighty] has assigned [distributed, apportioned] to us—a field that reaches [extends, stretches] even to you [including your region, your area]. word study 14 We are not overstepping [exceeding our authority, stretching beyond] our bounds, as if we had not come [arrived, reached] to you. Indeed, we were the first [preceded others, arrived before] to reach [come, extend] you with the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. word study 15 Neither do we boast [glory in, take pride in] beyond our limits [immoderately, excessively] in the labors [work, toil] of others [another’s, someone else’s]. But we hope [have expectation, trust] that as your faith [trust, confidence] increases [grows, expands], our area of influence [sphere of ministry, region of service] among you will greatly increase [be enlarged, magnified] as well [abundantly, in excess], word study 16 so that we can preach [share, proclaim, announce] the gospel [good news, message of salvation] in the regions [places, areas, territories] beyond [further than, past] you. Then we will not [never, by no means] be boasting [glorying, taking pride] in the work [things, labor] already done [prepared, made ready] in another man’s territory [line of things, province, area of responsibility]. word study 17 Rather, “Let him who [desires to glory] boasts [glory in something, take pride] boast [rejoice, have glory] in the [one true, supreme] Lord [God, Master, the Almighty].” word study 18 For [as a reason, explaining why] it is not the one who commends [praises, recommends] himself [themself, their own abilities] who is approved [tested, proven genuine], but the one whom [which, the person] the Lord [God, the supreme authority] commends [approves, praises]. word study