2 Corinthians 10
King James Version
10 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, 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 not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an 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 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.
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.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.