1 ARST Now I{ will speak about} myself, Paul. I am humbly and reasonably urging you{ to do what is right}, just like the Messiah{ was humble and reasonable}.{ Some people say that} when I was with you in person, I was gentle with you, but now, when I am away, I am forceful with you. BSB BSB: Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
2 ARST I do intend to be forceful when I boldly act against these people who think that I and those{ who serve} with me act in merely human ways. So, I ask you{ to do what is right} so that I will not need to be forceful with you too when I visit you. BSB BSB: I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
3 ARST In fact, although we act as humans, we do not defend ourselves in merely human ways. BSB BSB: For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
4 ARST In fact, what we use to defend ourselves is not what humans normally use. Rather, God empowers{ what we use to defend ourselves} so that we can defeat what other people powerfully argue. BSB BSB: The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 ARST { We} also{ defeat} anything that people claim is greater than knowing God. Further, we work to influence everything that people think so that they obey the Messiah. BSB BSB: We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
6 ARST At the time when you fully obey{ the Messiah}, we will be ready to punish anyone who disobeys{ him}. BSB BSB: And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.
7 ARST Think about what is obvious. Suppose that people are sure that they represent the Messiah. Those people need to remember that we too represent the Messiah, just like they do. BSB BSB: You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
8 ARST Indeed, I do not disgrace myself when I say many great things about how the Lord{ Jesus} has empowered us to represent him.{ He did that} so that we could encourage and help you{ to trust God more}, not so that we could discourage you{ from trusting God}. BSB BSB: For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
9 ARST So,{ you can tell that} I am not trying to scare you when I send{ forceful} letters to you. BSB BSB: I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters.
10 ARST { I write that} because some people say{ about me},“He sends severe and powerful letters to us, but he is feeble and speaks very poorly when he is with us.” BSB BSB: For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
11 ARST People who say those things need to realize that what we write in our letters{ to you} when we are not with you is also how we act when we are with you. BSB BSB: Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.
12 ARST We are too humble to say that we are as good as people{ you know} who say that they are trustworthy. Those people are foolish.{ When they say that they are great,} they are looking only at themselves. BSB BSB: 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 show their ignorance.
13 ARST In contrast, we do not say great things about ourselves beyond what we actually do. Rather,{ we say great things about ourselves} that match with what God has given us to do. That includes what we do whenever we are with you. BSB BSB: We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.
14 ARST In fact, only if we had not actually visited you would{ what God has given us to do} not include you. Of course, we really have already visited you{ and told you} the good news about the Messiah. BSB BSB: We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.
15 ARST We do not say great things about ourselves because of what others do but because of what we actually do. In fact, we confidently expect that God will give us even more to do with you.{ That will happen} when you trust{ God} more. BSB BSB: Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well,
16 ARST That way, we can tell the good news to people who live even further away from us than you do.{ That is what we plan to do} instead of saying great things about ourselves because of how other people have done what God has given them to do. BSB BSB: so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.
17 ARST { Everyone should do what the prophet Jeremiah wrote,}“Anyone who says great things should say them about the Lord{ God}.” BSB BSB: Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
18 ARST { Everyone should do that} because the Lord{ Jesus} recommends those whom he says are trustworthy, not those who say that about themselves. BSB BSB: For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.