8 And if I were even to glory somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord has given to us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.
9 But let it not be said that I am scaring you by means of epistles.
10 For they say: "His epistles, indeed, are weighty and strong. But his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is contemptible."
11 Let someone like this realize that whatever we are in word through epistles, while absent: we are much the same in deed, while present.
12 For we would not dare to interpose or compare ourselves with certain ones who commend themselves. But we measure ourselves by ourselves, and we compare ourselves with ourselves.
13 Thus, we will not glory beyond our measure, but rather according to the measure of the limit which God has measured out to us, a measure which extends even to you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we are not able to reach as far as you are able. For we have gone even as far as you have in the Gospel of Christ.