previous next

2 Corinthians 10

1 But I myself, Paul, am begging you, through the meekness and modesty of Christ. I am certainly, by appearances, lowly among you, yet I have confidence in you, even while I am absent.2 So I am petitioning you, lest I be bold, when present, with that bold confidence that I am considered to have by certain ones who judge us as if we were walking according to the flesh.3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our battles are not carnal, yet still they are powerful with God, unto the destruction of fortifications: tearing down every counsel5 and height that extols itself contrary to the wisdom of God, and leading every intellect into the captivity of obedience to Christ,6 and standing ready to repudiate every disobedience, when your own obedience has been fulfilled.7 Consider the things that are in accord with appearances. If anyone trusts that by these things he belongs to Christ, let him reconsider this within himself. For just as he belongs to Christ, so also do we.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.15 We are not glorying immeasurably over the labors of others. Instead, we hold on to the hope of your growing faith, so as to be magnified in you, according to our own limits, but in abundance,16 and even so as to evangelize in those places that are beyond you, not in order to glory in the measure of others, but rather in those things which have already been prepared.17 But whoever glories, let him glory in the Lord.18 For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but rather he whom God commends.

2 Corinthians 10

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

1 Now I, Paul, appeal to yout personallyt by the meekness and gentlenesst of Christ (I who am meekt when present amongt you, but am full of couraget toward you when away!) –2 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 behavingt according to human standards.t3 For though we livet as human beings,t we do not wage war according to human standards,t4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons,t but are made powerful by Godt for tearing down strongholds.s We tear down argumentst5 and every arrogant obstaclet that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obeyt Christ.6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience,t whenever your obedience is complete.7 You are looking at outward appearances.t If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave ust for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.t9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weakt and his speech is of no account.”t

11 Let such a person consider this: What we sayt by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

Paul’s Mission

12 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.t13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits,t but will confine our boastingt according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us,t that reaches even as far as you.14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.t15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limitst in the workt done by others, but we hopet that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expandedt among you according to our limits,t16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.ts

18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.