Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness^(A) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,^(B) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold^(C) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.^{(D) 3} For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.^{(E) 4} The weapons we fight with^(F) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power^(G) to demolish strongholds.^{(H) 5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(I) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(J) to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.^(K)

⁷ You are judging by appearances.^[a](L) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,^(M) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.^{(N) 8} So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us^(O) for building you up rather than tearing you down,^(P) I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(Q) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^{(R) 11} Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace^(A) is sufficient for you, for my power^(B) is made perfect in weakness.^(C)”^(D) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(E) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(F) in persecutions,^(G) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(H)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ I have made a fool of myself,^(I) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[a](J) even though I am nothing.^{(K) 12} I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^{(L) 13} How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(M) Forgive me this wrong!^(N)

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(O) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(P) but parents for their children.^{(Q) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(R) If I love you more,^(S) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(T) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged^(U) Titus^(V) to go to you and I sent our brother^(W) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(X) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(Y) is for your strengthening.^{(Z) 20} For I am afraid that when I come^(AA) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(AB) I fear that there may be discord,^(AC) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(AD) slander,^(AE) gossip,^(AF) arrogance^(AG) and disorder.^{(AH) 21} I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(AI) over many who have sinned earlier^(AJ) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(AK) in which they have indulged.