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1. I, Paul, ask you this myself. I do it through Christ Who is so gentle and kind. Some people say that I am gentle and quiet when I am with you, but that I have no fear and that my language is strong when I am away from you.
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1. Now G1161 I G1473 Paul G3972 myself G846 beseech G3870 you G5209 by G1223 the G3588 meekness G4236 and G2532 gentleness G1932 of Christ G5547 , who G3739 in G2596 presence G4383 am G3303 base G5011 among G1722 you G5213 , but G1161 being absent G548 am bold G2292 toward G1519 you G5209 :
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2. Do not make me speak strong words to you when I come. Some people think we want the things of the world because of what we do and say. I have decided to talk to these people if I have to.
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2. But G1161 I beseech G1189 you, that I may not G3361 be bold G2292 when I am present G3918 with that confidence G4006 , wherewith G3739 I think G3049 to be bold G5111 against G1909 some G5100 , which think G3049 of us G2248 as G5613 if we walked G4043 according G2596 to the flesh G4561 .
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3. It is true, we live in a body of flesh. But we do not fight like people of the world.
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3. For G1063 though we walk G4043 in G1722 the flesh G4561 , we do not G3756 war G4754 after G2596 the flesh G4561 :
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4. We do not use those things to fight with that the world uses. We use the things God gives to fight with and they have power. Those things God gives to fight with destroy the strong-places of the devil.
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4. ( For G1063 the G3588 weapons G3696 of our G2257 warfare G4752 are not G3756 carnal G4559 , but G235 mighty G1415 through God G2316 to G4314 the pulling down G2506 of strongholds G3794 ;)
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5. We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.
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5. Casting down G2507 imaginations G3053 , and G2532 every G3956 high thing G5313 that exalteth itself G1869 against G2596 the G3588 knowledge G1108 of God G2316 , and G2532 bringing into captivity G163 every G3956 thought G3540 to G1519 the G3588 obedience G5218 of Christ G5547 ;
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6. We are ready to punish those who will not obey as soon as you obey in everything.
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6. And G2532 having G2192 in G1722 a readiness G2092 to revenge G1556 all G3956 disobedience G3876 , when G3752 your G5216 obedience G5218 is fulfilled G4137 .
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7. You are seeing things only as men see them. If anyone feels sure he belongs to Christ, he should remember that we belong to Christ also.
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7. Do ye look on G991 things G3588 after G2596 the outward appearance G4383 ? If any man G1536 trust G3982 to himself G1438 that he is G1511 Christ G5547 's , let him of G575 himself G1438 think G3049 this G5124 again G3825 , that G3754 , as G2531 he G846 is Christ G5547 's, even G2532 so G3779 are we G2249 Christ G5547 's.
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8. I am not ashamed if I say this of myself. The Lord gave me the right and the power to help you become stronger, not to break you down.
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8. For G1063 though G1437 G5037 I should boast G2744 G2532 somewhat G5100 more G4055 of G4012 our G2257 authority G1849 , which G3739 the G3588 Lord G2962 hath given G1325 us G2254 for G1519 edification G3619 , and G2532 not G3756 for G1519 your G5216 destruction G2506 , I should not G3756 be ashamed G153 :
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9. I do not want you to think I am trying to make you afraid with my letters.
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9. That G2443 I may not G3361 seem G1380 as G5613 G302 if I would terrify G1629 you G5209 by G1223 letters G1992 .
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10. They say, "His letters are strong and they make us think. When he is here with us, he is weak and he is hard to listen to."
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10. For G3754 his letters G1992 G3303 , say G5346 they, are weighty G926 and G2532 powerful G2478 ; but G1161 his bodily G4983 presence G3952 is weak G772 , and G2532 his speech G3056 contemptible G1848 .
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11. What we say in our letters we will do when we get there. They should understand this.
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11. Let such a one G5108 think G3049 this G5124 , that G3754 , such G3634 as we are G2070 in word G3056 by G1223 letters G1992 when we are absent G548 , such G5108 will we be also G2532 in deed G2041 when we are present G3918 .
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12. We do not compare ourselves with those who think they are good. They compare themselves with themselves. They decide what they think is good or bad and compare themselves with those ideas. They are foolish.
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12. For G1063 we dare G5111 not G3756 make ourselves of the number G1469 G1438 , or G2228 compare G4793 ourselves G1438 with some G5100 that commend G4921 themselves G1438 : but G235 they G846 measuring G3354 themselves G1438 by G1722 themseves G1438 , and G2532 comparing G4793 themselves G1438 among themselves G1438 , are not wise G4920 G3756 .
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13. But we will not talk with pride more than God allows us to. We will follow the plan of the work He has given us to do and you are a part of that work.
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13. But G1161 we G2249 will not G3780 boast G2744 of G1519 things without our measure G280 , but G235 according G2596 to the G3588 measure G3358 of the G3588 rule G2583 which G3739 God G2316 hath distributed G3307 to us G2254 , a measure G3358 to reach G2185 even G2532 unto G891 you G5216 .
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14. We did not go farther than we were supposed to go when we came to you. But we did come to you with the Good News of Christ.
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14. For G1063 we stretch not ourselves beyond G5239 G3756 G1438 our measure, as though G5613 we reached G2185 not G3361 unto G1519 you G5209 : for G1063 we are come G5348 as far as G891 to you G5216 also G2532 in G1722 preaching the G3588 gospel G2098 of Christ G5547 :
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15. We take no pride in the work others have done there. But we hope your faith will keep growing because of help from others. Then we will grow because of you.
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15. Not G3756 boasting G2744 of G1519 things without our measure G280 , that is, of G1722 other men G245 's labors G2873 ; but G1161 having G2192 hope G1680 , when your G5216 faith G4102 is increased G837 , that we shall be enlarged G3170 by G1722 you G5213 according G2596 to our G2257 rule G2583 abundantly G1519 G4050 ,
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16. We hope to preach the Good News in the countries on the other side of you. Then we would take no pride in work done by another person in another country.
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16. To preach the gospel G2097 in G1519 the regions beyond G5238 you G5216 , and not G3756 to boast G2744 in G1722 another man G245 's line of things G2583 made ready to our hand G1519 G2092 .
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17. If anyone wants to be proud, he should be proud of what the Lord has done.
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17. But G1161 he that glorieth G2744 , let him glory G2744 in G1722 the Lord G2962 .
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18. It is not what a man thinks and says of himself that is important. It is what God thinks of him.
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18. For G1063 not G3756 he G1565 that commendeth G4921 himself G1438 is G2076 approved G1384 , but G235 whom G3739 the G3588 Lord G2962 commendeth G4921 .
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