Paul Defends His Work for Christ
1 Do you think I am a coward when I am with you and brave when I am far away? Well, I ask you to listen, because Christ himself was humble and gentle. 2 Some people have said we act like the people of this world. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don't make me treat you that way. 3 We live in this world, but we don't act like its people 4 or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God's power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5 and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people's thoughts and make them obey Christ. 6 And when you completely obey him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.
7 You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again. We belong to Christ as much as you do. 8 Maybe I brag a little too much about the authority that the Lord gave me to help you and not to hurt you. Yet I am not embarrassed to brag. 9 And I am not trying to scare you with my letters. 10 Some of you are saying, “Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is a weakling and has nothing worth saying.” 11 Those people had better understand that when I am with you, I will do exactly what I say in my letters.
12 We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves. 13 We won't brag about something we don't have a right to brag about. We will only brag about the work God has sent us to do, and you are part of that work. 14 We are not bragging more than we should. After all, we did bring the message about Christ to you.
15 We don't brag about what others have done, as if we had done those things ourselves. But I hope as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you. That has always been our goal. 16 Then we will be able to preach the good news in other lands where we cannot take credit for work someone else has already done. 17 The Scriptures say, “If you want to brag, then brag about the Lord.” 18 You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.
Pāvila kalpošanas pilnvaras
1 Es, Pāvils, jūs mudinu Kristus lēnprātībā un maigumā, es, kas esmu pazemīgs, kad esmu pie jums klāt, bet bargs prombūtnē, 2 es lūdzu, lai man, esot pie jums, patiesi nebūtu jābūt bargam, vēršoties pret tiem, kuri domā, ka mēs dzīvojam pēc miesas prasībām. 3 Mēs dzīvojam miesā, bet mēs necīnāmies ar miesas līdzekļiem, 4 jo mūsu cīņas ieroči nav miesiski, bet Dieva doti – vareni, kas spēj sagraut cietokšņus. Mēs apgāžam prāta sagudrojumus 5 un jebkuru augstprātību, kas saceļas pret Dieva atzīšanu, mēs sagūstām jebkuru domu, lai tā kļūtu paklausīga Kristum. 6 Mēs esam gatavi nosodīt ikvienu novēršanos no paklausības, kad jūsu paklausība būs pilnīga. 7 Ņem vērā to, kas labi redzams! Ja kāds ir sevī pārliecināts, ka viņš pieder Kristum, lai viņš spriež par savu piederību Kristum: kā viņš pieder Kristum, tāpat arī mēs. 8 Ja arī es pārāk dižotos ar varu, ko Kungs mums ir devis jūsu garīgai celšanai, ne graušanai, es par to nekaunēšos. 9 Lai nedomā par mani, ka es gribu jūs nobiedēt ar savām vēstulēm. 10 Daži saka: viņa vēstules gan ir skarbas un spēcīgas, bet klātesot viņš ir nevarīgs, un viņa sacītais nav vērā ņemams. 11 Tad nu lai tie zina: kādi prombūtnē esam vārdos, rakstot vēstules, tādi paši esam klātbūtnē darbos. 12 Mēs neļaujam sevi pieskaitīt tiem vai salīdzināt ar tiem, kas paši sevi grib izcelt, jo tie, kas paši sevi ar sevi mēra un ar sevi salīdzinās, nav prātīgi. 13 Arī ar savu lielīšanos mēs netiecamies pāri mēram, bet līdz tai robežai, ko mums kā mēru ir piešķīris Dievs – nokļūt līdz jums. 14 Mēs nebūt nepārspīlējam – it kā mēs nebūtu līdz jums nokļuvuši – jo Kristus evaņģēlija sludināšanā mēs esam līdz jums nokļuvuši. 15 Mēs nelielāmies pāri mēram tur, kur pūlējušies citi, bet mums ir cerība, ka, jūsu ticībai aizvien augot, mēs neizmērojami pieaugsim lielumā mums piešķirtajās robežās jūsu vidū, 16 lai, ietiecoties zemēs vēl tālāk aiz jums, evaņģelizētu arī tur, bet ne lai lielītos par to, kas svešās robežās jau padarīts. 17 Bet, kas lielās, lai lielās ar Kungu. 18 Ne tas ir atzīstams, kas pats izceļas, bet tas, ko izceļ Kungs.
