2 Corinthians 10:7-11:15

New King James Version

Reality of Paul’s Authority

^7 (A)Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? ^(B)If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even ^[a]so ^(C)we are Christ’s. ⁸ For even if I should boast somewhat more ^(D)about our authority, which the Lord gave ^[b]us for ^[c]edification and not for your destruction, ^(E)I shall not be ashamed— ⁹ lest I seem to terrify you by letters. ¹⁰ “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but ^(F)his bodily presence is weak, and his ^(G)speech contemptible.” ¹¹ Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

Limits of Paul’s Authority

^12 (H)For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ^13 (I)We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), ^(J)for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; ¹⁵ not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, ^(K)in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, ¹⁶ to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

¹⁷ But ^(L)“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For ^(M)not he who commends himself is approved, but ^(N)whom the Lord commends.

Concern for Their Faithfulness

11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little ^(O)folly—and indeed you do bear with me. ² For I am ^(P)jealous for you with godly jealousy. For ^(Q)I have betrothed you to one husband, ^(R)that I may present you ^(S)as a chaste virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear, lest somehow, as ^(T)the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds ^(U)may be corrupted from the ^[d]simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴ For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a ^(V)different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Paul and False Apostles

⁵ For I consider that ^(W)I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. ⁶ Even though ^(X)I am untrained in speech, yet I am not ^(Y)in knowledge. But ^(Z)we have ^[e]been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

⁷ Did I commit sin in ^[f]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you ^(AA)free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need, ^(AB)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked ^(AC)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. ^10 (AD)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(AE)no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? ^(AF)Because I do not love you? God knows!

¹² But what I do, I will also continue to do, ^(AG)that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. ¹³ For such ^(AH)are false apostles, ^(AI)deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into ^(AJ)an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, ^(AK)whose end will be according to their works.