2 Corinthians 10 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Paul Confronts the Corinthians

10 Now (A)I, Paul, myself (B)urge you by the (C)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who (D)am [a]meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 I ask that (E)when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against (F)some, who regard us as if we walked (G)according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle (H)according to the flesh, 4 for the (I)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [b]divinely powerful (J)for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all (K)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the (L)obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever (M)your obedience is complete.

7 [c](N)You are looking at [d]things as they are outwardly. (O)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, (P)so too are we. 8 For if (Q)I boast somewhat [e]more about our (R)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, 9 [f]for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his [g]personal presence is (S)unimpressive and (T)his speech contemptible.” 11 Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

12 For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with [h]some of those who (U)commend themselves; but when they [i]measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. 13 But we will not boast (V)beyond our measure, but [j](W)within the measure of the [k]domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for (X)we were the first to come even as far as you in the (Y)gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting (Z)beyond our measure, that is, in (AA)other people’s labors, but with the hope that as (AB)your faith grows, we will be, [l]within our [m]domain, (AC)enlarged even more by you, 16 so as to (AD)preach the gospel even to (AE)the regions beyond you, and not to boast [n](AF)in what has been accomplished in the domain of another. 17 But (AG)the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the one who (AH)commends himself that is approved, but the one (AI)whom the Lord commends.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Lit lowly
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:4 Or mighty before God
  3. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at... or Do you look at...?
  4. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Lit what is before your face
  5. 2 Corinthians 10:8 Or more abundantly
  6. 2 Corinthians 10:9 Lit so that I may not seem
  7. 2 Corinthians 10:10 Lit bodily presence is weak
  8. 2 Corinthians 10:12 Or any
  9. 2 Corinthians 10:12 I.e., evaluate
  10. 2 Corinthians 10:13 Lit according to the measure
  11. 2 Corinthians 10:13 Or assignment; lit standard
  12. 2 Corinthians 10:15 Lit according to our
  13. 2 Corinthians 10:15 See note 2 v 13
  14. 2 Corinthians 10:16 Lit to the things prepared in the

Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : Gal 5:2; Eph 3:1; Col 1:23
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : Rom 12:1
  3. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : Matt 11:29; 1 Cor 4:21; Phil 4:5
  4. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : 1 Cor 2:3f; 2 Cor 10:10
  5. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : 1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 13:2, 10
  6. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : 1 Cor 4:18f
  7. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 1:17
  8. 2 Corinthians 10:3 : Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 1:17
  9. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : 1 Cor 9:7; 2 Cor 6:7; 1 Tim 1:18
  10. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : Jer 1:10; 2 Cor 10:8; 13:10
  11. 2 Corinthians 10:5 : Is 2:11f
  12. 2 Corinthians 10:5 : 2 Cor 9:13
  13. 2 Corinthians 10:6 : 2 Cor 2:9
  14. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : John 7:24; 2 Cor 5:12
  15. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : 1 Cor 1:12; 14:37
  16. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : 1 Cor 9:1; 2 Cor 11:23; Gal 1:12
  17. 2 Corinthians 10:8 : 2 Cor 7:4
  18. 2 Corinthians 10:8 : 2 Cor 13:10
  19. 2 Corinthians 10:10 : 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:7; Gal 4:13f
  20. 2 Corinthians 10:10 : 1 Cor 1:17; 2 Cor 11:6
  21. 2 Corinthians 10:12 : 2 Cor 3:1; 10:18
  22. 2 Corinthians 10:13 : 2 Cor 10:15
  23. 2 Corinthians 10:13 : Rom 12:3; 2 Cor 10:15f
  24. 2 Corinthians 10:14 : 1 Cor 3:6
  25. 2 Corinthians 10:14 : 2 Cor 2:12
  26. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : 2 Cor 10:13
  27. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : Rom 15:20
  28. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : 2 Thess 1:3
  29. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : Acts 5:13
  30. 2 Corinthians 10:16 : 2 Cor 11:7
  31. 2 Corinthians 10:16 : Acts 19:21
  32. 2 Corinthians 10:16 : Rom 15:20
  33. 2 Corinthians 10:17 : Jer 9:24; 1 Cor 1:31
  34. 2 Corinthians 10:18 : 2 Cor 10:12
  35. 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 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

10 Now I, Paul, beg you to do something since you know that Christ was kind and gentle. You say I am weak when I am face to face with you, but when I am not with you, then I speak to you with hard words. 2 I beg you, do not force me to talk hard words when I come. I have made up my mind to talk hard...
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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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