This is my answer to those who question my authority.

我对那盘问我的人就是这样分诉：

对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些责难我的人，我的答复是这样：

对那些盘问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些评断我的人，我的辩护是这样的：

我對那盤問我的人就是這樣分訴：

對那些質問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些質問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些責難我的人，我的答覆是這樣：

對那些盤問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些審斷我的人呢、我的分訴是這樣說：

對那些評斷我的人，我的辯護是這樣的：

有詰我者、我以此白之、

有詰我者、我以是告之、

有詰我者、我即以此答之、

亦即吾所持以答人之質問者也。

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

That is what I say to stand up for myself when people judge me.

This is my defense to those who would examine me.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defence to them that examine me is this.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

This is my defense to those who examine me.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.

I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.

I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you.

Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.

“ Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said,“ listen to me as I offer my defense.”

Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.