1 I Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Messiah. Some say that I am bold when I am writing you from a distance, but not when I am there with you. 2 They think our motives for what we do are like those of the world. I plan to be very bold against those people when I come. I hope I will not need to use that same boldness with you. 3 3For though we walk in fleshly bodies, we do not fight according to the flesh. 4For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in YAHUSHA for overthrowing strongholds, 5overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of YAHUSHA, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Messiah, 6and being ready to evaluate all rebellion, when your obedience is accomplished. 7Take a look at what you are facing. If anyone seems to trust in himself that he is of Messiah, let him decide for himself, that as he is of Messiah, as are we.
8 It may seem as though we boast too much about the authority the Master gave us. But He gave us this authority to strengthen you, not to hurt you. So I will not be ashamed of whatever boasting we do. 9 I don’t want you to think that I am trying to scare you with my letters. 10 Some people say, “Paul’s letters are powerful and sound important, but when he is with us, he is weak and the worst speaker you have ever heard.” 11 Those people should know this: When we are there with you, we will show the same power that we show now in our letters.
12 We don’t dare put ourselves in the same class with those who think they are so important. We don’t compare ourselves to them. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are. This shows that they know nothing.
13 But we will not boast about anything outside the work that was given us to do. We will limit our boasting to the work YAHUSHA gave us, but this work includes our work with you. 14 We would be boasting too much only if we had not already come to you. But we have come to you with the Good News about Messiah. 15 We limit our boasting to the work that is ours. We don’t boast about the work other people have done. We hope that your belief will continue to grow. We hope that you will help our work to grow much larger. 16 We want to tell the Good News in the areas beyond your city. We don’t want to boast about work that has already been done in someone else’s area. 17 “Whoever boasts should boast only about the Master.” 18 What people say about themselves means nothing. What counts is whether the Master says they have done well.
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