2 Corinthians 10:7-16

English Standard Version

^7 (A)Look at what is before your eyes. ^(B)If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as ^(C)he is Christ's, ^(D)so also are we. ⁸ For even if I boast a little too much of ^(E)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 ^(F)his bodily presence is weak, and ^(G)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 ^(H)compare ourselves with some of those who ^(I)are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are ^(J)without understanding.

¹³ But we will not boast ^(K)beyond limits, but will ^(L)boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, ^(M)to reach even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. ^(N)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 ^(O)as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be ^(P)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.