Study Desk

Now ^(C1)I, Paul, myself ^(C2)urge you by the ^(C3)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who ^(C4)am ^(F1)meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!

I ask that ^(C1)when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against ^(C2)some, who regard us as if we walked ^(C3)according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle ^(C1)according to the flesh,

for the ^(C1)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^(F1)divinely powerful ^(C2)for the destruction of fortresses.

We are destroying arguments and all ^(C1)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the ^(C2)obedience of Christ,

and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^(C1)your obedience is complete.

^(F1)(C1)You are looking at ^(F2)things as they are outwardly. ^(C2)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, ^(C3)so too are we.

For if ^(C1)I boast somewhat ^(F1)more about our ^(C2)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,

^(F1)for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his ^(F1)personal presence is ^(C1)unimpressive and ^(C2)his speech contemptible."

Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.