1. I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some people say that I am easy on you when I am with you and strict when I am away.
2. They think that we live in a worldly way. I plan to be very strict against them when I come. I beg you that when I come I will not need to use that same strictness with you.
3. We do live in the world. But we do not fight in the same way that the world fights.
4. We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God. These weapons can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy men’s arguments.
5. And we destroy every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.