Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

10 Now I, Paul, beg you to do something since you know that Christ was kind and gentle. You say I am weak when I am face to face with you, but when I am not with you, then I speak to you with hard words.

² I beg you, do not force me to talk hard words when I come. I have made up my mind to talk hard words against some people. They think we are living for the things in this world.

³ Of course we are living in bodies made for this world. But we are not fighting for the things in this world.

⁴ We do not use the things of this world in our fighting, but we use the power of God. This power can break down the walls where the enemy hides.

⁵ We can break down what people think and every big idea that tries to stop people from knowing God. And we can make every thought a prisoner to obey Christ.

⁶ Only when you all obey, then we are ready to punish anyone who will not obey.

⁷ Surely you can see this. If one person is sure that he belongs to Christ, then he should see that we too belong to Christ just as he does.

⁸ The Lord gave us power to build you up, not to break you down. Maybe I talk about it too much. But I feel I am right in talking about it.

⁹ I do not want you to think that I am trying to make you afraid by my letters.

¹⁰ Some people say, `Paul's letters make us listen. They are strong. But he himself is weak and what he says is not worth listening to.'

¹¹ People like that should know this. When we come we will do what we have said in our letters.