2 Corinthians 10
Wycliffe Bible
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]
3 For we walking in the flesh, fight not after the flesh.
4 For the arms of our knighthood be not fleshly, but mighty by God to the destruction of strengths [to the destruction of wardings, or strengths].
5 And we destroy counsels, and all highness that higheth itself against the science of God, and drive into captivity all understanding into the service of Christ.[c]
6 And we have ready to venge all unobedience, when your obedience shall be filled. [Also having in readiness to venge all unobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled.]
7 See ye the things that be after the face. If any man trusteth to himself, that he is of Christ, think he this thing again with himself, for as he is Christ's, so also we [so and we].
8 For if I shall glory any thing more of our power, which the Lord gave to us into edifying, and not into your destruction, I shall not be shamed.
9 But that I be not guessed as to frighten you by epistles, [Forsooth that I be not guessed as to fear you by epistles,]
10 for they say, That epistles be grievous and strong, but the presence of the body is feeble, and the word worthy to be despised.[d]
11 He that is such one, think this, for such as we absent be in word by epistles, such we be present in deed.
12 For we dare not put us among, or comparison us to some men, that commend themselves; but we measure us in us selves, and comparison us selves to us. [Soothly we dare not put us among, or comparison us to some, that commend themselves; but we meting, or measuring, us in ourselves, and comparisoning ourselves to us.]
13 For we shall not have glory over measure, but by the measure of the rule [but after the measure of rule] which God measured to us, the measure that stretcheth [till] to you.
14 For we overstretch not forth us, as not stretching to you. For [till] to you we came in the gospel of Christ,
15 not glorying over measure in other men's travails. For we have hope of your faith that waxeth in you to be magnified by our rule in abundance [Soothly we having hope of your faith waxing in you to be magnified after our rule in abundance],
16 also to preach into those things that be beyond you, not to have glory in other man's rule [not to glory in other man's rule], in these things that be made ready.
17 [Forsooth] He that glorieth, have glory in the Lord [glory he in the Lord].
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved [is proved], but whom God commendeth.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 10:1 Forsooth I Paul beseech you, by the gentleness, or mildness, and softness, or patience, of Christ
- 2 Corinthians 10:2 Forsooth, I pray you, that I present be not hardy by that trust, in which I am guessed to be hardy into some, which deem us, as (if) we wandered after the flesh.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 Destroying counsels, and all highness raising itself against the science of God, and driving into captivity all understanding into the service of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 10:10 for why they say, The epistles be heavy, or grievous, and strong, but the presence of the body is sick, and the word contemptible, or worthy to be despised.
2 Corinthians 10
New Matthew Bible
He refers to the false apostles, and defends his authority and calling.
10 I Paul myself beseech you, by the meekness and softness of Christ – I who when I am present among you am of no reputation, but am bold toward you when absent. 2 I beseech you so that I need not to be bold when I am present (with that same confidence that I am supposed to be bold with) toward some who consider us as though we walked carnally. 3 Nevertheless, though we walk encompassed with the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal things, but things mighty in God to cast down strongholds, 5 with which we overthrow imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity all understanding to the obedience of Christ, 6 and are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience, when your obedience might come to an end. 7 Do you look on things after the outward appearance?
If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him also consider that as he is Christ’s, so also are we Christ’s. 8 And if I were to boast somewhat of our authority, which the Lord has given us to build up, and not to break you down, it would not be to my discredit. 9 I say this so that I do not seem as though I went about to make you afraid with letters. 10 For the epistles (says he) are strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is poor. 11 Let such a man think of it this way: that as we are in words by letters when we are absent, such are we in deeds when we are present.
12 For we cannot find in our hearts to make ourselves of their number, or to compare ourselves with those who laud themselves; nevertheless, while they measure themselves against themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they understand nothing. 13 But we will not boast unduly, but according to the measure of the work that God has assigned to us – a work that reaches even to you. 14 For we are not overrating ourselves, as if we had not reached to you, because we did reach you with the gospel of Christ. 15 And we do not claim undue credit for other men’s labours. Yea, and we hope, when your faith is increased among you, to be advanced further in our work, 16 and to preach the gospel in those regions that are beyond you – and not to boast of that which is prepared already by another man’s work.
17 But let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. 18 For he who praises himself is not accepted, but he whom the Lord praises.
2 Corinthians 10
1599 Geneva Bible
10 2 He showeth with what confidence, 4 with what weapons, 6 and with what revenge he is armed against the cavillations of the wicked, 7 and that, when he is present, his deeds have no less power, 11 than his words have force when he is absent.
1 Now [a]I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness, and [b]gentleness of Christ, which when I am present among you am base, but am bold toward you being absent:
2 And this I require you, that I need not to be bold when I am present, with that same confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which esteem us as though we walked [c]according to the flesh.
3 [d]Nevertheless, though we walk in the flesh, yet we do not war after the flesh.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not [e]carnal, but mighty through [f]God, to cast down holds.)
5 Casting down the imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, [g]and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,
6 And having ready the vengeance against all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 [h]Look ye on things after the [i]appearance? If any man trust in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again of [j]himself, that as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should have no shame.
9 This I say, that I may not seem as it were to fear you with letters.
10 For the letters, saith [k]he, are sore and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no value.
11 Let such one think this, that such as we are in word by letters, when we are absent, such will we be also in deed, when we are present.
12 [l]For we [m]dare not make ourselves of the number, or to compare ourselves to them, which praise themselves: but they understand not that they measure themselves with [n]themselves, and [o]compare themselves with themselves.
13 But we will not rejoice of things, which are not within our [p]measure, (A)but according to the measure of the line, whereof God hath distributed unto us a measure to attain even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we had not attained unto you: for even to you also have we come in preaching the Gospel of Christ.
15 Not boasting of things which are [q]without our measure: that is, of other men’s labors: and we hope, when your faith shall increase, to be magnified by you according to your line abundantly,
16 And to preach the Gospel in those regions which are beyond you: not to rejoice in [r]another man’s line: that is, in the things that are prepared already.
17 (B)[s]But let him that rejoiceth, rejoice in the Lord.
18 For he that praiseth himself, is not allowed, but he whom the Lord praiseth.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 10:1 He returneth to the defense of his Apostleship, but so that he useth this authority therein: for he warneth them earnestly and gravely, using also terrible threatenings to show themselves such as are apt to be instructed. And he refelleth certain proud men which made no better accompt of him, than of a bragging Thraso, in that he used to be sharp against them when he was absent, because they saw no great majesty in him after the manner of men, and besides, had proved his lenity, notwithstanding that in his absence, he had written to them sharply. Therefore first of all he professeth that he was gentle and moderate, but after the example of Christ: but if they continue, still to despise his gentleness, he protesteth unto them that he will show indeed how far they are deceived, which make that accompt of the office of an Apostle, that they do of worldly offices, that is, according to the outward appearance.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1 That nature which is inclined to mercy, rather than to rigor of justice.
- 2 Corinthians 10:2 As though I had no other aid and help than that which outwardly I seem to have: and therefore Paul setteth his flesh, that is, his weak condition and state, against his spiritual and Apostolic dignity.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3 Secondly he witnesseth, that although he be like unto other men, yet he cometh furnished with that strength, which no holds of man can match, whether they resist by craft and deceit, or by force and might, because he warrioreth with divine weapons.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 Are not such as men get them authority withall one of another, and do great acts.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 Stand upon that infinite power of God.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 An amplification of this spiritual virtue, which in such sort conquereth the enemies be they never so crafty and mighty, that it bringeth some of them by repentance unto Christ, and justly revengeth others, that are stubbornly obstinate, separating them from the others which suffer themselves to be ruled.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 He beateth into their heads that same matter, with great weight of words and sentences.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye judge of things according to the outward show.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Not being told of it by me.
- 2 Corinthians 10:10 He noteth out someone that was the seeds man of this speech.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 Being constrained to refel the foolish brags of certain ambitious men, he witnesseth, that they are able to bring nothing, but that they falsely persuade themselves of themselves: and as for himself, although he brags of excellent things, yet he will not pass the bounds which God hath measured him out, according whereunto he came even unto them in preaching the Gospel of Christ, and trusteth that he shall go further, when they have so profited that he shall not need to tarry any longer amongst them to instruct them. And hereunto is added an amplification, in that he never succeeded other men in their labors.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 This is spoken after a taunting sort.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 Upon a vain persuasion that they have of themselves, they take upon them they care not what.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 They condemn all others, and measure all their doings only by themselves.
- 2 Corinthians 10:13 Of those things which God hath not measured to me.
- 2 Corinthians 10:15 As though God had divided the whole world among the Apostles, to be husbanded.
- 2 Corinthians 10:16 In countries which other men have prepared and husbanded with the preaching of the Gospel.
- 2 Corinthians 10:17 He somewhat mitigateth that which he spake of himself and therewith also prepareth the Corinthians to hear other things, witnessing that he seeketh nothing else but to approve himself to God, whose glory he only seeketh.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
