You are lookingat things as they are outwardly.Ifanyoneis confidentin himselfthat he is Christ's,let him considerthisagainwithinhimself,that justas he is Christ's,soalsoare we.
We are not againcommendingourselvesto you but [are] givingyou an occasionto be proudof us, sothat you will have[an answer] for thosewho take pridein appearanceand not in heart.
Ifanyonethinkshe is a prophetorspiritual,let him recognizethat the things whichI writeto you are the Lord'scommandment.
Are they servantsof Christ?--I speakas if insane--I more so;in far morelabors,in far moreimprisonments,beatentimes without number,oftenin danger of death.
"Do not judgeaccordingto appearance,but judgewith righteousjudgment."
We are from God;he who knowsGodlistensto us; he whois not from Goddoes not listento us. By thiswe knowthe spiritof truthand the spiritof error.
AmI not free?AmI not an apostle?Have I not seenJesusour Lord?Are you not my workin the Lord?
and you belong to Christ;and Christbelongs to God.
And ifyou belong to Christ,thenyou are Abraham'sdescendants,heirsaccordingto promise.
NowI, Paul,myselfurgeyou by the meeknessand gentlenessof Christ--I whoam meekwhen face to facewith you, but boldtowardyou when absent!
NowI meanthis,that each oneof you is saying,"I amof Paul,"and "I of Apollos,"and "I of Cephas,"and "I of Christ."
sinceyou are seekingfor proofof the Christwho speaksin me, and whois not weaktowardyou, but mightyin you.
I have becomefoolish;you yourselvescompelledme. ActuallyI shouldhave been commendedby you, for in norespectwas I inferiorto the most eminentapostles,eventhoughI ama nobody.
Sincemanyboastaccordingto the flesh,I will boastalso.
For ifone comesand preachesanotherJesuswhomwe have not preached,oryou receivea differentspiritwhichyou have not received,ora differentgospelwhichyou have not accepted,you bear[this] beautifully.
But eachin his ownorder:Christthe first fruits,afterthat thosewhoare Christ'sat His coming,
And He saidto them, "You are thosewho justifyyourselvesin the sightof men,but Godknowsyour hearts;for that which is highly esteemedamongmenis detestablein the sightof God.
"But they doalltheir deedsto be noticedby men;for they broadentheir phylacteriesand lengthenthe tassels[of their garments].
But the LORDsaidto Samuel,"Do not lookat his appearanceor at the heightof his stature,becauseI have rejectedhim; for God[sees] not as mansees,for manlooksat the outwardappearance,but the LORDlooksat the heart."
