Are we beginningto commendourselvesagain?Ordo we need,as some,lettersof commendationto you orfrom you?
And when he wantedto go acrossto Achaia,the brethrenencouragedhim and wroteto the disciplesto welcomehim; and when he had arrived,he greatlyhelpedthosewho had believedthroughgrace,
I commendto you our sisterPhoebe,who is a servantof the churchwhich is at Cenchrea;
justas I alsopleaseallmen in all things,not seekingmy ownprofitbut the [profit] of the many,sothat they may be saved.
WhenI arrive,whomeveryou may approve,I will sendthem with lettersto carryyour giftto Jerusalem;
Accordingto the graceof Godwhich was givento me, likea wisemaster builderI laida foundation,and anotheris buildingon it. But each manmust be carefulhowhe buildson it.
For ifyou were to havecountlesstutorsin Christ,yet[you would] not [have] manyfathers,for in ChristJesusI became your fatherthroughthe gospel.
For we are not boldto classorcompareourselveswith someof thosewho commendthemselves;but when they measurethemselvesby themselvesand comparethemselveswith themselves,they are withoutunderstanding.
For it is not he who commendshimselfthat is approved,but he whomthe Lordcommends.
For evenifI boastsomewhatfurtheraboutour authority,whichthe Lordgavefor buildingyou up and not for destroyingyou, I will not be put to shame,
I have becomefoolish;you yourselvescompelledme. ActuallyI shouldhave been commendedby you, for in norespectwas I inferiorto the most eminentapostles,eventhoughI ama nobody.
All this timeyou have been thinkingthat we are defendingourselves to you. [Actually], it is in the sightof Godthat we have been speakingin Christ;and allfor your upbuilding,beloved.
For we are not likemany,peddlingthe wordof God,but as from sincerity,but as from God,we speakin Christin the sightof God.
We are not againcommendingourselvesto you but [are] givingyou an occasionto be proudof us, sothat you will have[an answer] for thosewho take pridein appearanceand not in heart.