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2 Corinthians 10:12-13:14
New International Version
2 Corinthians 10:12-13:14
New International Version
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.(A) 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,(B) 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(C) with the gospel of Christ.(D) 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits(E) by boasting of work done by others.(F) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,(G) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel(H) in the regions beyond you.(I) 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.”[a](J) 18 For it is not the one who commends himself(K) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(L)
Paul and the False Apostles
11 I hope you will put up with(M) me in a little foolishness.(N) Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,(O) to Christ, so that I might present you(P) as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,(Q) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,(R) or if you receive a different spirit(S) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel(T) from the one you accepted, you put up with it(U) easily enough.
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[b](V) 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,(W) but I do have knowledge.(X) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin(Y) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God(Z) to you free of charge?(AA) 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them(AB) so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.(AC) I have kept myself from being a burden to you(AD) in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,(AE) nobody in the regions of Achaia(AF) will stop this boasting(AG) of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows(AH) I do!(AI)
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,(AJ) deceitful(AK) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.(AL) 14 And no wonder, for Satan(AM) himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.(AN)
Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.(AO) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,(AP) but as a fool.(AQ) 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does,(AR) I too will boast.(AS) 19 You gladly put up with(AT) fools since you are so wise!(AU) 20 In fact, you even put up with(AV) anyone who enslaves you(AW) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak(AX) for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.(AY) 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.(AZ) Are they Israelites? So am I.(BA) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(BB) 23 Are they servants of Christ?(BC) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,(BD) been in prison more frequently,(BE) been flogged more severely,(BF) and been exposed to death again and again.(BG) 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes(BH) minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,(BI) once I was pelted with stones,(BJ) three times I was shipwrecked,(BK) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,(BL) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,(BM) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.(BN) 27 I have labored and toiled(BO) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;(BP) I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.(BQ) 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?(BR) Who is led into sin,(BS) and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast(BT) of the things that show my weakness.(BU) 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,(BV) knows(BW) that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.(BX) 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.(BY)
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
12 I must go on boasting.(BZ) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(CA) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ(CB) who fourteen years ago was caught up(CC) to the third heaven.(CD) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(CE) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up(CF) to paradise(CG) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(CH) 6 Even if I should choose to boast,(CI) I would not be a fool,(CJ) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(CK) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(CL) a messenger of Satan,(CM) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(CN) 9 But he said to me, “My grace(CO) is sufficient for you, for my power(CP) is made perfect in weakness.(CQ)”(CR) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(CS) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(CT) in persecutions,(CU) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(CV)
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself,(CW) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[c](CX) even though I am nothing.(CY) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(CZ) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(DA) Forgive me this wrong!(DB)
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(DC) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(DD) but parents for their children.(DE) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(DF) If I love you more,(DG) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(DH) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(DI) Titus(DJ) to go to you and I sent our brother(DK) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(DL) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(DM) is for your strengthening.(DN) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(DO) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(DP) I fear that there may be discord,(DQ) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(DR) slander,(DS) gossip,(DT) arrogance(DU) and disorder.(DV) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(DW) over many who have sinned earlier(DX) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(DY) in which they have indulged.
Final Warnings
13 This will be my third visit to you.(DZ) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[d](EA) 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:(EB) On my return I will not spare(EC) those who sinned earlier(ED) or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(EE) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(EF) yet he lives by God’s power.(EG) Likewise, we are weak(EH) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(EI) in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves(EJ) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(EK) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(EL)—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak(EM) but you are strong;(EN) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(EO) 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh(EP) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.(EQ)
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers and sisters,(ER) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.(ES) And the God of love(ET) and peace(EU) will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(EV) 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.(EW)
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,(EX) and the love of God,(EY) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit(EZ) be with you all.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24
- 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15
2 Corinthians 10:12-13:14
King James Version
2 Corinthians 10:12-13:14
King James Version
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
11 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16 I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
13 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
New International Version (NIV) 
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