保罗为自己的工作辩护
我－保罗与你们见面的时候是温和的，不在你们那里的时候向你们是勇敢的，如今亲自藉着基督的温柔和慈祥劝你们。
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2有人认为我们是凭着血气行事，我认为必须敢于对付这等人；我但求在那里的时候，不必这样勇敢。But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3我们虽然在血气中行事，却不凭着血气争战。For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4因为我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，而是凭着神的能力，能够攻破坚固的营垒。我们攻破各样的计谋，(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5和各样拦阻人认识神的高垒，又夺回人心来顺服基督。Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6我已经预备好了，等你们完全顺服的时候来惩罚所有不顺服的人。And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7你们只看事情的外表。倘若有人自信是属基督的，他要再想想，他属基督，我们也属基督。Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
8主赐给我们权柄，是要造就你们，并不是要拆毁你们；我就是为这权柄稍微夸口也不觉得惭愧。For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9我说这话，免得你们以为我写信是要恐吓你们。That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10因为有人说：“他信上的语气既严厉又强硬，他本人却软弱无能，言语粗俗。”For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11这等人当明白，我们不在那里时信上怎么说，见面时也必怎么做。Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12因为我们不敢将自己和某些自我推荐的人并列相比；他们用自己度量自己，用自己比较自己，是不明智的。For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13我们不愿意过分夸口，但是我们只在神划定的界限内夸口。这界限甚至扩展到你们那里。But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14我们扩展到你们那里时并没有越过了自己的界限，其实我们是首先到你们那里传基督福音的。For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15我们不靠别人所劳碌的过分夸口；我们只希望你们信心增长的时候，所划定给我们的范围也能够因着你们更加扩展，Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16使福音得以传到你们以外的地方，而不在别人的范围之内，以别人所成就的事夸口。To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
17但“要夸耀的，该夸耀主”。But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18因为蒙悦纳的，不是自我称许的，而是主所称许的。For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.