Paul Defends His Authority

10 Now ^(A)I, Paul, myself ^(B)plead with you by the ^(C)gentleness and forbearance of Christ—I who ^(D)am humble when face-to-face with you, but courageous toward you when absent! ² But I beg that ^(E)when I am present I need not act so courageously with the confidence that I consider to daringly use against ^(F)some, who consider us as if we walked ^(G)according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war ^(H)according to the flesh, ⁴ for the ^(I)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^[a]divinely powerful ^(J)for the tearing down of strongholds, ⁵ as we tear down speculations and every ^(K)lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the ^(L)obedience of Christ, ⁶ and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^(M)your obedience is fulfilled.