But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don't need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?

now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.

because some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account."

For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.