⁸ For even if I boast a little too much of ^(A)our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. ⁹ I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. ¹⁰ For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but ^(B)his bodily presence is weak, and ^(C)his speech of no account.” ¹¹ Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. ¹² Not that we dare to classify or ^(D)compare ourselves with some of those who ^(E)are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are ^(F)without understanding.

¹³ But we will not boast ^(G)beyond limits, but will ^(H)boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, ^(I)to reach even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. ^(J)For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that ^(K)as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be ^(L)greatly enlarged, ¹⁶ so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. ¹⁷ “Let ^(M)the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is ^(N)not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one ^(O)whom the Lord commends.