Paul Defends His Ministry
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Now a I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ - b who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
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But I beg you c that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
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For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
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d For the weapons e of our warfare are not carnal but f mighty in God g for pulling down strongholds,
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h casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
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i and being ready to punish all disobedience when j your obedience is fulfilled.
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k Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? l If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so m we are Christ's.
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For even if I should boast somewhat more n about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, o I shall not be ashamed -
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lest I seem to terrify you by letters.
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"For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but p his bodily presence is weak, and his q speech contemptible."
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Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
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r For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
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s We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us - a sphere which especially includes you.
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For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), t for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
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not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, u in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
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to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.
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But v "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
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For w not he who commends himself is approved, but x whom the Lord commends.
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Cross References
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 2:7
But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:21
What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
2 Corinthians 13:2
I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare -
2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
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Cross References
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:7
Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
2 Corinthians 6:7
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.
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Cross References
Acts 7:22
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.
2 Corinthians 10:8
For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed -
2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 13:2
I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare -
2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:15
And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
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Cross References
John 7:24
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
2 Corinthians 5:12
For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:12
Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:37
If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
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Cross References
Romans 14:8
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
1 Corinthians 3:23
And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:14
For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:3
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
2 Corinthians 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Galatians 4:13
You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
2 Corinthians 11:6
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 5:12
For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:15
Not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
1 Corinthians 3:6
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
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Cross References
Romans 15:20
And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation.
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Cross References
Isaiah 65:16
So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes.
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.
1 Corinthians 1:31
That, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.
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Cross References
Proverbs 27:2
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
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Cross References
Romans 2:29
But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.