^7 [a](A)You are looking at ^[b]things as they are outwardly. ^(B)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, ^(C)so too are we. ⁸ For if ^(D)I boast somewhat ^[c]more about our ^(E)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, ^9 [d]for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. ¹⁰ For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his ^[e]personal presence is ^(F)unimpressive and ^(G)his speech contemptible.” ¹¹ Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

¹² For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with ^[f]some of those who ^(H)commend themselves; but when they ^[g]measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. ¹³ But we will not boast ^(I)beyond our measure, but ^[h](J)within the measure of the ^[i]domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for ^(K)we were the first to come even as far as you in the ^(L)gospel of Christ; ¹⁵ not boasting ^(M)beyond our measure, that is, in ^(N)other people’s labors, but with the hope that as ^(O)your faith grows, we will be, ^[j]within our ^[k]domain, ^(P)enlarged even more by you, ¹⁶ so as to ^(Q)preach the gospel even to ^(R)the regions beyond you, and not to boast ^[l](S)in what has been accomplished in the domain of another. ¹⁷ But ^(T)the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. ¹⁸ For it is not the one who ^(U)commends himself that is approved, but the one ^(V)whom the Lord commends.