2 Corinthians 10:1-10

1Now I, Paul, appeal myself to you by the meekness and gentleness of Messiah—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when far away.

2I beg of you that when I am present I won’t need to be bold with the courage I consider showing against some who judge us as walking in the flesh.

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

4For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments

5and every high-minded thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah—

6ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

7Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident in himself that he belongs to Messiah, let him reconsider that just as he belongs to Messiah, so also do we.

8For even if I boast a little more about our authority—which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down—I will not be put to shame.

9Not that I would try to terrify you by my letters—

10for they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his presence in person is weak and his speech of no account.”