2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15

Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Apostolic Authority

10 Now I, Paul, myself, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. ² I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are living according to the flesh.^{(A) 3} For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, ⁴ since the weapons of our warfare^(B) are not of the flesh, but are powerful^(C) through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments ⁵ and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge^(D) of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. ⁶ And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

⁷ Look at what is obvious.^[a] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ,^(E) let him remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. ⁸ For if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up^(F) and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame. ⁹ I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. ¹⁰ For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.” ¹¹ Let such a person consider this: What we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will also be in our actions when we are present.

¹² For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend^(G) themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves,^(H) they lack understanding.^{(I) 13} We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned^(J) to us, which reaches even to you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ We are not boasting beyond measure about other people’s labors. On the contrary, we have the hope^(K) that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, ¹⁶ so that we may preach the gospel to the regions beyond you^(L) without boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry.^{(M) 17} So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.^{[b](N) 18} For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.^(O)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness^(P) from me. Yes, do put up with me!^{[c] 2} For I am jealous^(Q) for you with a godly jealousy,^(R) because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure^(S) virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear that, as the serpent^(T) deceived^(U) Eve^(V) by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure^[d] devotion to Christ.^{(W) 4} For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,^(X) whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,^(Y) which you had not received, or a different gospel,^(Z) which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

⁵ Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”^{(AA) 6} Even if I am untrained in public speaking,^(AB) I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.^(AC) Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything. ⁷ Or did I commit a sin by humbling^(AD) myself so that you might be exalted,^(AE) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?^{(AF) 8} I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. ⁹ When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia^(AG) supplied my needs.^(AH) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped^[e] in the regions of Achaia.^{(AI) 11} Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

¹² But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny^[f] an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(AJ) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.^(AK)