2 Corinthians 10 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Paul Defends His Ministry

10 (A)I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the (B)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you (C)that when I am present I may not have to show (D)boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the (E)weapons of (F)our warfare are not of the flesh but have (G)divine power (H)to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and (I)every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to (J)obey Christ, 6 (K)being ready to punish every disobedience, (L)when your obedience is complete.

7 (M)Look at what is before your eyes. (N)If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as (O)he is Christ's, (P)so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of (Q)our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but (R)his bodily presence is weak, and (S)his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or (T)compare ourselves with some of those who (U)are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are (V)without understanding.

13 But we will not boast (W)beyond limits, but will (X)boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, (Y)to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. (Z)For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that (AA)as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be (AB)greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. 17 “Let (AC)the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is (AD)not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one (AE)whom the Lord commends.

Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : See Rom. 12:1
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : Zech. 9:9; Matt. 11:29; Phil. 2:7, 8
  3. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : ch. 13:2, 10; 1 Cor. 4:18, 21
  4. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : ver. 6
  5. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : ch. 6:7; [Eph. 6:11; 1 Thess. 5:8]
  6. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : See 1 Cor. 9:7
  7. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : ch. 13:3, 4; See 1 Cor. 2:5
  8. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : Jer. 1:10
  9. 2 Corinthians 10:5 : [Isa. 2:11, 12]
  10. 2 Corinthians 10:5 : ch. 9:13; [Rom. 5:19]
  11. 2 Corinthians 10:6 : See ver. 2
  12. 2 Corinthians 10:6 : ch. 2:9; 7:15
  13. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : [ch. 5:12; John 7:24]
  14. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : [1 Cor. 1:12; 14:37; 1 John 4:6]
  15. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : 1 Cor. 3:23
  16. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : [ch. 11:23; 1 Cor. 9:1; Gal. 1:12]
  17. 2 Corinthians 10:8 : ch. 13:10
  18. 2 Corinthians 10:10 : ch. 11:21; [ch. 12:7]
  19. 2 Corinthians 10:10 : See 1 Cor. 1:17
  20. 2 Corinthians 10:12 : 1 Cor. 2:13
  21. 2 Corinthians 10:12 : ver. 18; ch. 3:1; 12:6; [Prov. 27:2]
  22. 2 Corinthians 10:12 : [Prov. 26:12]
  23. 2 Corinthians 10:13 : ver. 15
  24. 2 Corinthians 10:13 : See Rom. 12:3
  25. 2 Corinthians 10:13 : [Rom. 15:20]
  26. 2 Corinthians 10:14 : 1 Cor. 3:5; 4:15; 9:1
  27. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : 2 Thess. 1:3
  28. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : [Acts 5:13]
  29. 2 Corinthians 10:17 : 1 Cor. 1:31; [Jer. 9:23, 24]
  30. 2 Corinthians 10:18 : See ver. 12
  31. 2 Corinthians 10:18 : Rom. 2:29; 1 Cor. 4:5

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2 Corinthians 10 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

10 And I myself Paul beseech you, by the mildness and softness of Christ[a], which in the face am meek among you, and I absent trust in you. 2 For I pray you, that lest I present be not bold by the trust, in which I am guessed to be bold into some, that deem us, as if we wander after the flesh.[b] ...
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2 Corinthians 10 - World English Bible (WEB)

10 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us t...
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2 Corinthians 10 - The Voice (VOICE)

10 I, Paul, appeal to you in the same gentle and loving spirit of the Anointed—yes, I who am humble when I’m face-to-face with you but audacious to you in these letters when I’m away (I know what they say). 2 If it were up to me, I’d rather not have to be so bold when I’m with you, especially with ...
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2 Corinthians 10 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Tearing Down Strongholds10 Now I, Paul, appeal myself to you by the meekness and gentleness of Messiah—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when far away. 2 I beg of you that when I am present I won’t need to be bold with the courage I consider showing against some who ju...
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2 Corinthians 10 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Paul Defends His Ministry10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against som...
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2 Corinthians 10 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

10 Now I, Paul, encourage you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I, who am lowly when present among you but bold when absent). 2 And I urge you that, when I am present, I need not be bold with the same confidence as that which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as though we walk...
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2 Corinthians 10 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Battle for the Mind10 Think of the Messiah, meek and gentle; then think of me, Paul – yes, Paul himself! – making his appeal to you. You know what I’m like: I’m humble when I’m face to face with you, but I’m bold when I’m away from you! 2 Please, please don’t put me in the position of having to...
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2 Corinthians 10 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Paul Defends His Ministry10 I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!(A)—2 I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to ...
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2 Corinthians 10 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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2 Corinthians 10 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul Defends His Authority10 Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. 2 Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human...
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