New International Reader's Version

2 Corinthians 10:3-9 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

3. I do live in the world. But I don't fight my battles the way the people of the world do.

4. The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy.

5. I destroy every claim and every reason that keeps people from knowing God. I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ.

6. Until you have obeyed completely, I will be ready to punish you every time you don't obey.

7. You are looking only at what appears on the surface of things. Suppose you are sure you belong to Christ. Then you should consider again that I belong to Christ just as much as you do.

8. Do I brag too much about the authority the Lord gave me? If I do, it's because I want to build you up, not pull you down. And I'm not ashamed of that kind of bragging.

9. Don't think that I'm trying to scare you with my letters.