1. I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some say that I am bold when I am writing you from a distance, but not when I am there with you.
2. They think our motives for what we do are like those of the world. I plan to be very bold against those people when I come. I hope I will not need to use that same boldness with you.
3. We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does.
4. The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments,
5. and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.
6. We are ready to punish anyone there who does not obey, but first we want you to be fully obedient.