2 KORINTIËRS 10
Paulus verdedig sy apostoliese gesag
1 Ek, Paulus, doen 'n persoonlike beroep op julle — ek, wat mos “gedwee” is as ek by julle is, maar “manhaftig” teenoor julle as ek van julle af weg is. In die Naam van Christus, wat nederig en vriendelik is, vra ek julle: 2 Moet my nie dwing om streng te wees as ek kom nie. Ek is seker ek kan my veroorloof om streng op te tree teenoor dié wat ons daarvan beskuldig dat ons uit menslike oorwegings handel. 3 Natuurlik leef ons in 'n menslike liggaam, maar ons voer nie die stryd met menslike wapens nie. 4 Die wapens van ons stryd is nie die wapens van die mens nie, maar die kragtige wapens van God wat vestings kan vernietig. Daarmee vernietig ons die redenasies 5 en elke hooghartige aanval wat teen die kennis van God gerig word. Ons neem elke gedagte gevange om dit aan Christus gehoorsaam te maak. 6 Ons is ook gereed om met elke ongehoorsaamheid af te reken sodra julle eie gehoorsaamheid volkome is.
7 Julle kyk net na een kant van die saak. As iemand dan so vas oortuig is dat hy aan Christus behoort, moet hy onthou: ons behoort net soos hy ook aan Christus. 8 Al het ek my miskien 'n bietjie te veel beroem op daardie bevoegdhede wat die Here my gegee het, sal ek nie beskaamd daarvan afkom nie. Die Here het aan ons die bevoegdheid gegee om julle op te bou, nie om julle af te breek nie. 9 Daarom wil ek nie die skyn wek dat ek julle met my briewe probeer bang maak nie.
10 Daar word mos gesê: “Sy briewe is wel ernstig en streng, maar as hy self by ons is, is hy mak en beteken sy woorde niks.” 11 Die man wat so praat, moet weet dat daar geen verskil is tussen wat ons in briewe skrywe as ons van julle af weg is, en wat ons doen as ons by julle is nie.
12 Ons waag dit natuurlik nie om ons op een lyn te stel of te vergelyk met sekere mense wat so 'n danige dunk van hulleself het nie. Hulle is dom: hulle meet hulleself aan hulle eie maatstaf en vergelyk hulleself met hulleself. 13 Maar wat ons betref, ons sal met ons roem nie buite die perke gaan nie. Ons bly binne die perke van die werkkring wat God aan ons toegemeet het. Julle val ook binne daardie perke. 14 Dus het ons nie ons perke oorskry deur tot by julle te kom nie. Ons het immers vroeër al tot by julle gekom met die evangelie van Christus. 15 Deur op julle te roem, gaan ons dus nie die perke te buite nie, want dit is nie ander mense se werk waarop ons roem nie. Ons hoop dat julle geloof sal toeneem en dat ons dan onder julle nog meer sal hê om op te roem, steeds binne die perke van ons werkkring. 16 Dan sal ons die evangelie ook in streke anderkant julle kan verkondig sonder om te roem op werk wat tot stand gebring is in die werkkring van iemand anders.
17 Maar die Skrif sê: “Hy wat roem, moet in die Here roem.”t 18 Die man wat die proef deurstaan het, is nie die een wat homself prys nie, maar die een wat deur die Here geprys word.
2 Corinthians 10
1 NOW I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentleness and consideration of Christ [Himself; I] who [am] lowly enough [so they say] when among you face to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken) to you when [I am] absent from you!2 I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers].3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),6 Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.7 Look at [this obvious fact] which is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him reflect and remind himself that even as he is Christ’s, so too are we.8 For even though I boast rather freely about our power and authority, which the Lord gave for your upbuilding and not for demolishing you, yet I shall not be put to shame [for exceeding the truth],9 Neither would I seem to be overawing or frightening you with my letters;10 For they say, His letters are weighty and impressive and forceful and telling, but his personality and bodily presence are weak, and his speech and delivery are utterly contemptible (of no account).11 Let such people realize that what we say by letters when we are absent, [we put] also into deeds when we are present--12 Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.13 We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits [of our commission which] God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you.14 For we are not overstepping the limits of our province and stretching beyond our ability to reach, as though we reached not (had no legitimate mission) to you, for we were [the very first] to come even as far as to you with the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.15 We do not boast therefore, beyond our proper limit, over other men’s labors, but we have the hope and confident expectation that as your faith continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within the limits of our commission,16 So that [we may even] preach the Gospel in lands [lying] beyond you, without making a boast of work already done in another [man’s] sphere of activity [before we came on the scene].17 However, let him who boasts and glories boast and glory in the Lord. 18 For [it is] not [the man] who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but [it is the person] whom the Lord accredits and commends.