Against the false Apostles, granting the infirmity of his person, he doth notwithstanding set out the power of his Apostleship. 12 reprehending them also for challenging to themselves the praise of other men's labours.Against the false Apostles, graunting the infirmitie of his person, he doth notwithstanding set out the power of his Apostleship. 12 reprehending them also for challenging to themselues the praise of other mens labours.✦
And I Paul my self beseech you by the mildness and modesty of Christ, who in presence in deed am humble among you, but absent am bold on you.AND I Paul my self beseeche you by the mildenes and modestie of Christ, who in presence in deede am humble among you, but absent am bold on you.✦Ipse autem ego Paulus obsecro vos per mansuetudinem et modestiam Christi, qui in facie quidem humilis sum inter vos, absens autem confido in vos.
2But I beseech you, that being present I need not be bold by that confidence wherewith I am thought to be bold against some: which think us as though we walk according to the flesh.But I beseeche you, that being present I neede not be bold by that confidence wherwith I am thought to be bold against some: which thinke vs as though we walke according to the flesh.✦Rogo autem vos ne præsens audeam per eam confidentiam, qua existimor audere in quosdam, qui arbitrantur nos tamquam secundum carnem ambulemus.
3For walking in the flesh, we war not according to the flesh.For walking in the flesh, we warre not according to the flesh.In carne enim ambulantes, non secundum carnem militamus.
4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal: but mighty to God unto the destruction of munitionum: ammunition; fortifications, strongholds, destroying counsels,For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal: but mightie to God vnto the destruction of munitions, destroying counsels,¶✦Nam arma militiæ nostræ non carnalia sunt, sed potentia Deo ad destructionem munitionum, consilia destruentes,
5and all altitudinem: grandeur, nobility; proud height that exalts itself extolling it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity all understanding unto the obedience of Christ,and al loftinesse extolling it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captiuitie al vnderstanding vnto the obedience of Christ,✦et omnem altitudinem extollentem se adversus scientiam Dei, et in captivitatem redigentes omnem intellectum in obsequium Christi,
6and having in a readiness to ulcisci: private vengeance; to punish, vindicate, exact justice all disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled.and hauing in a readinesse to reuenge al disobedience, when your obedience shal be fulfilled.¶✦et in promptu habentes ulcisci omnem inobedientiam, cum impleta fuerit vestra obedientia.
7See the things that are according to appearance. If any man have confidit: betrothal, engagement to marry; trust, reliance, confidence in him self, that he is Christ's: let him think this again with him self, that as he is Christ's, so we also.See the things that are according to appearance. If any man haue affiance in him self, that he is Christs: let him thinke this againe with him self, that as he is Christs, so we also.✦Quæ secundum faciem sunt, videte. Si quis confidit sibi Christi se esse, hoc cogitet iterum apud se : quia sicut ipse Christi est, ita et nos.
8For and if I should glory somewhat more of our power, which our Lord hath given us unto edification and not to your destruction: I shall not be ashamed.For and if I should glorie somewhat more of our power, which our Lord hath giuen vs vnto edification and not to your destruction: I shal not be ashamed.¶✦Nam etsi amplius aliquid gloriatus fuero de potestate nostra, quam dedit nobis Dominus in ædificationem, et non in destructionem vestram, non erubescam.
9But that I may not be thought as it were to terrify you by epistles (But that I may not be thought as it were to terrifie you by epistles (Ut autem non existimer tamquam terrere vos per epistolas :
10for his epistles in deed, say they, are graves: aching, tender; grievous, weighty, severe and vehement: but his bodily presence weak, and his speech contemptible)for his epistles in deede, say they, are sore and vehement: but his bodily presence weake, and his speache contemptible)✦quoniam quidem epistolæ, inquiunt, graves sunt et fortes : præsentia autem corporis infirma, et sermo contemptibilis :
11let him this think that is such a one, that such as we are in word by epistles, absent: such also we are in deed, present.let him this thinke that is such a one, that such as we are in word by epistles, absent: such also we are in deede, present.hoc cogitet qui ejusmodi est, quia quales sumus verbo per epistolas absentes, tales et præsentes in facto.
12For we dare not match or compare our selves with certain, that commend them selves: but we measure our selves in our selves, and compare our selves to our selves.For we dare not matche or compare our selues with certaine, that commend them selues: but we measure our selues in our selues, and compare our selues to our selues.✦Non enim audemus inserere, aut comparare nos quibusdam, qui seipsos commendant : sed ipsi in nobis nosmetipsos metientes, et comparantes nosmetipsos nobis.
13But we will not glory above our measure: but according to the measure of the rule, which God hath measured to us, a measure to reach even unto you.But we wil not glorie aboue our measure: but according to the measure of the rule, which God hath measured to vs, a measure to reache euen vnto you.✦Nos autem non in immensum gloriabimur, sed secundum mensuram regulæ, qua mensus est nobis Deus, mensuram pertingendi usque ad vos.
14For not, as though we reached not unto you, do we extend our selves beyond. For we are come as far as to you in the Gospel of Christ.For not, as though we reached not vnto you, doe we extend our selues beyond. For we are come as farre as to you in the Gospel of Christ.✦Non enim quasi non pertingentes ad vos, superextendimus nos : usque ad vos enim pervenimus in Evangelio Christi.
15not glorying above measure in other men's labours: but having hope of your faith increasing, to be magnified in you according to our rule abundantly,not glorying aboue measure in other mens labours: but hauing *hope of your faith increasing, to be magnified in you according to our rule aboundantly,✦Non in immensum gloriantes in alienis laboribus : spem autem habentes crescentis fidei vestræ, in vobis magnificari secundum regulam nostram in abundantiam,
16yea unto those places that are beyond you, to evangelize, not in an other man's rule, to glory in those things that are prepared before.yea vnto those places that are beyond you, to euangelize, not in an other mans rule, to glorie in those things that are prepared before.✦etiam in illa, quæ ultra vos sunt, evangelizare, non in aliena regula in iis quæ præparata sunt gloriari.
17But he that glorieth, let him glory in our Lord.But he that glorieth, let him glorie in our *Lord.✦Qui autem gloriatur, in Domino glorietur.
18For not he that commendeth him self, the same is approved: but whom God commendeth.For not he that commendeth him self, the same is approued: but whom God commendeth.✦Non enim qui seipsum commendat, ille probatus est : sed quem Deus commendat.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
4Weapons. He meaneth the ample spiritual and Apostolical power given by Christ for the punishment of false Apostles, Heretics, and rebels to God's Church, who are here noted specially by pride and insolence (which is the proper mark of such fellows) to extol them selves above the measure of the science of God, which consisteth in humble obedience to the faith and the preachers of the same.Weapons. He meaneth the ample spiritual and Apostolical povver giuen by Christ for the punishment of false Apostles, Heretikes, and rebelles to Gods Church, who are here noted specially by pride and insolence (which is the proper marke of such fellowes) to extoll them selues aboue the measure of the science of God, which consisteth in humble obedience to the faith and the preachers of the same.
6To revenge. You may see hereby, that the spiritual power of Bishops is not only in preaching the Gospel, and so by persuasion and exhortation only (as some Heretics hold) to remit or retain sins, but that it hath authority to punish, judge, and condemn Heretics and other like rebels: which power one of the principal rebels of this time being condemned, by the evidence of the place acknowledgeth to be grounded upon Christ's word, Whatsoever you bind in earth, etc. shall be bound in heaven: Mat. 18, 18. applying also the words spoken to Jeremie (c. 1, 10.) Behold I appoint thee over Nations and kingdoms, that thou plant, pluck up, build and destroy: to confirm and explicate the power Apostolic here alleged by S. Paul. Mary they would gladly draw this power from the lawful successors of the Apostles, to them selves, their ministers and consistories, which are nothing else but the shops and Councils of sedition and all the conspiracies of this time against the lawful Princes of the world.To reuenge. You may see hereby, that the spiritual povver of Bishops is not onely in preaching the Gospel, and so by perswasion and exhortation onely (as some Heretikes hold) to remitte or retaine sinnes, but that it hath authoritie to punish, iudge, and condemne Heretikes and other like rebelles: which povver one of the principal rebelles of this time being condemned, by the euidence of the place acknowledgeth to be grounded vpon Christes word, Vvhatsoeuer you binde in earth, &c. shal be bound in heauen: Mat. 18, 18. applying also the wordes spoken to Hieremie (c. 1, 10.) Behold I appoint thee ouer Nations and kingdomes, that thou plant, plucke vp, build and destroy:* to confirme and explicate the povver Apostolike here alleaged by S. Paul. Mary they would gladly drawe this povver from the lawful successors of the Apostles, to them selues, their ministers and consistories, which are nothing els but the shoppes and Councels of sedition and al the conspiracies of this time against the lawful Princes of the world.
8Unto edification. This great power of the Church's censures, (specially of Excommunication, as it was given for the good and salvation of the people, so it must not be used against the innocent: no nor yet upon Heretics or other offenders, but where and when it may by likelihood benefit either the parties, or the people, or may be executed without the hurt or perturbation of the whole Church, as often times it can not be, by reason of the multitude of offenders. Which caused the Apostle here to signify that he would not use his uttermost authority against the false Apostles which disturbed them, till them selves were in perfect obedience unto him. lest by punishing the principal offenders, a greater disturbance and revolt might fall among the people, if they were not before in perfect obedience.Vnto edification. This great povver of the Churches censures, (specially of Excommunication, as it was giuen for the good and saluation of the people, so it must not be vsed against the innocent: no nor yet vpon Heretikes or other offenders, but where and when it may by likelihod benefite either the parties, or the people, or may be executed without the hurt or perturbation of the whole Church, as often times it can not be, by reason of the multitude of offenders. Which caused the Apostle here to signifie that he would not vse his vttermost authoritie against the false Apostles which disturbed them, til them selues were in perfect obedience vnto him. lest by punishing the principal offenders, a greater disturbance and reuolt might fall among the people, if they were not before in perfect obedience.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.