10:8 主賜給我們權柄,是要造就你們,並不是要敗壞你們;我就是為這權柄稍微誇口,也不至於慚愧。
10:9 我說這話,免得你們以為我寫信是要威嚇你們;
10:10 因為有人說:「他的信又沉重又厲害,及至見面,卻是氣貌不揚,言語粗俗的。」
10:11 這等人當想,我們不在那裡的時候,信上的言語如何,見面的時候,行事也必如何。
10:12 因為我們不敢將自己和那自薦的人同列相比。他們用自己度量自己,用自己比較自己,乃是不通達的。
10:13 我們不願意分外誇口,只要照上帝所量給我們的界限搆到你們那裡。
10:14 我們並非過了自己的界限,好像搆不到你們那裡;因為我們早到你們那裡,傳了基督的福音。
10:15 我們不仗著別人所勞碌的,分外誇口;但指望你們信心增長的時候,所量給我們的界限,就可以因著你們更加開展,
10:16 得以將福音傳到你們以外的地方;並不是在別人界限之內,藉著他現成的事誇口。
10:17 但誇口的,當指著主誇口。
10:18 因為蒙悅納的,不是自己稱許的,乃是主所稱許的。
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.