⁷ You are judging by appearances.^[a](A) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,^(B) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.^{(C) 8} So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us^(D) for building you up rather than tearing you down,^(E) I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(F) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^{(G) 11} Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

¹² We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.^(H) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,^(I) a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴ We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you^(J) with the gospel of Christ.^{(K) 15} Neither do we go beyond our limits^(L) by boasting of work done by others.^(M) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,^(N) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel^(O) in the regions beyond you.^(P) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^{[b](Q) 18} For it is not the one who commends himself^(R) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.^(S)