2 Corinthians 10 - New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness(A) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,(B) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold(C) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.(D) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.(E) 4 The weapons we fight with(F) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power(G) to demolish strongholds.(H) 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,(I) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient(J) to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.(K)

7 You are judging by appearances.[a](L) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,(M) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.(N) 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us(O) for building you up rather than tearing you down,(P) I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive(Q) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”(R) 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.(S) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,(T) a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you(U) with the gospel of Christ.(V) 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits(W) by boasting of work done by others.(X) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,(Y) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel(Z) in the regions beyond you.(AA) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b](AB) 18 For it is not the one who commends himself(AC) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(AD)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at the obvious facts
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24

Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : Mt 11:29
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:1 : Gal 5:2; Eph 3:1
  3. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : S 1Co 4:21
  4. 2 Corinthians 10:2 : Ro 12:2
  5. 2 Corinthians 10:3 : ver 2
  6. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : S 2Co 6:7
  7. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : 1Co 2:5
  8. 2 Corinthians 10:4 : ver 8; Jer 1:10; 23:29; 2Co 13:10
  9. 2 Corinthians 10:5 : Isa 2:11, 12; 1Co 1:19
  10. 2 Corinthians 10:5 : 2Co 9:13
  11. 2 Corinthians 10:6 : 2Co 2:9; 7:15
  12. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : S Jn 7:24; 2Co 5:12
  13. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : 1Co 1:12; S 3:23; 14:37
  14. 2 Corinthians 10:7 : 2Co 11:23
  15. 2 Corinthians 10:8 : ver 13, 15
  16. 2 Corinthians 10:8 : ver 4; Jer 1:10; 2Co 13:10
  17. 2 Corinthians 10:10 : ver 1; 1Co 2:3; Gal 4:13, 14
  18. 2 Corinthians 10:10 : 1Co 1:17; 2Co 11:6
  19. 2 Corinthians 10:12 : ver 18; S 2Co 3:1
  20. 2 Corinthians 10:13 : ver 15, 16; S Ro 12:3
  21. 2 Corinthians 10:14 : S 1Co 3:6
  22. 2 Corinthians 10:14 : S 2Co 2:12
  23. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : ver 13
  24. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : Ro 15:20
  25. 2 Corinthians 10:15 : 2Th 1:3
  26. 2 Corinthians 10:16 : S Ro 1:1; S 2Co 2:12
  27. 2 Corinthians 10:16 : S Ac 19:21
  28. 2 Corinthians 10:17 : Jer 9:24; Ps 34:2; 44:8; 1Co 1:31
  29. 2 Corinthians 10:18 : ver 12
  30. 2 Corinthians 10:18 : S Ro 2:29

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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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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)

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2 Corinthians 10 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

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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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