Paul’s Apostolic Authority
Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away. 2Co 10:10Mat 11:29Gal 5:2Rom 12:1Isa 42:3-42Co 12:7-91Co 2:32Co 11:30 I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh. 2Co 13:102Co 13:2Gal 5:16-25Eph 2:2-31Co 4:18-212Co 12:13-202Co 11:9-13Rom 8:1
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 2Co 10:41Pe 4:1-2Gal 2:20Rom 8:132Ti 2:3-41Ti 1:182Ti 4:7Heb 12:1 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2Co 6:7Eph 6:13-18Jer 1:101Co 2:51Sa 17:45-502Co 13:3-41Ti 1:18Zec 4:6-7 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Heb 4:12Isa 55:71Pe 1:14-15Rom 7:23Mat 15:19Rom 1:21Jer 4:141Co 3:19 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete. 2Co 2:9Num 16:26-302Co 7:151Co 5:3-52Co 13:2Act 5:3-112Co 13:10Act 13:10-11
You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does. Jhn 7:241Co 14:372Co 5:122Co 11:231Co 3:231Co 9:11Jn 4:61Co 1:12 For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed. 2Co 13:102Ti 1:122Co 1:242Co 12:62Co 13:2-32Co 13:8Gal 1:12Co 7:14
I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters. 1Co 4:19-211Co 4:52Co 10:10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.” 1Co 1:17Exo 4:102Co 11:62Co 12:5-9Gal 4:13-14Jer 1:61Co 2:1-41Co 1:21 Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present. 2Co 12:202Co 13:102Co 13:2-31Co 4:19-20
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. Pro 27:2Pro 26:122Co 10:18Luk 18:11Rom 15:182Co 3:1Pro 25:272Co 5:12 We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you. 1Pe 4:10Rom 12:62Co 10:14-15Eph 4:7Rom 12:3Rom 15:201Co 12:11Isa 28:17 We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ. Rom 1:161Co 4:151Ti 1:111Co 2:101Co 3:5-61Co 9:1-22Co 2:122Co 3:1-3
Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well, 2Th 1:3Rom 15:202Co 10:13Act 5:13 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory. Rom 15:24-28Act 19:21
Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Jer 9:23-241Co 1:31Jas 1:9-10Isa 65:16Psa 105:31Co 1:29Jer 4:2Php 3:3 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. Pro 21:2Luk 16:151Co 4:5Rom 2:292Co 10:12Jhn 12:43Luk 18:10-14Jhn 5:42-44