7. You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.
8. For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.
9. I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,
10. because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.”
11. Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.
12. For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
13. But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you.
14. For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.
15. Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits,
16. so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.
17. But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.