2. I beg you that when I’m with you in person, I won’t have to boss you around. I’m afraid that I may have to use that kind of behavior with those people who think we live by human standards.
3. Although we live in the world, we don’t fight our battles with human methods.
4. Our weapons that we fight with aren’t human, but instead they are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They destroy arguments,
5. and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
6. Once your obedience is complete, we are ready to punish any disobedience.
7. Look at what is right in front of you! If anyone is sure about belonging to Christ, that person should think again. We belong to Christ just like that person.
8. Even if I went on to brag about our authority, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it. The Lord gave us that authority to build you up and not to destroy you.
9. I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to intimidate you with my letters.
10. I know what some people are saying: "His letters are severe and powerful, but in person he is weak and his speech is worth nothing."
11. These people need to think about this—that when we are with you, our actions will show that we are the same as the words we wrote when we were away from you.
12. We won’t dare to place ourselves in the same league or to compare ourselves with some of those who are promoting themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.