2 Corinthians 10-12
New American Standard Bible
Paul Confronts the Corinthians
10 Now (A)I, Paul, myself (B)urge you by the (C)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who (D)am [a]meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 I ask that (E)when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against (F)some, who regard us as if we walked (G)according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle (H)according to the flesh, 4 for the (I)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [b]divinely powerful (J)for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all (K)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the (L)obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever (M)your obedience is complete.
7 [c](N)You are looking at [d]things as they are outwardly. (O)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, (P)so too are we. 8 For if (Q)I boast somewhat [e]more about our (R)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, 9 [f]for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his [g]personal presence is (S)unimpressive and (T)his speech contemptible.” 11 Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
12 For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with [h]some of those who (U)commend themselves; but when they [i]measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. 13 But we will not boast (V)beyond our measure, but [j](W)within the measure of the [k]domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for (X)we were the first to come even as far as you in the (Y)gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting (Z)beyond our measure, that is, in (AA)other people’s labors, but with the hope that as (AB)your faith grows, we will be, [l]within our [m]domain, (AC)enlarged even more by you, 16 so as to (AD)preach the gospel even to (AE)the regions beyond you, and not to boast [n](AF)in what has been accomplished in the domain of another. 17 But (AG)the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the one who (AH)commends himself that is approved, but the one (AI)whom the Lord commends.
Paul Defends His Apostleship
11 I wish that you would (AJ)bear with me in a little (AK)foolishness; but [o]indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I (AL)betrothed you to one husband, to (AM)present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that, as the (AN)serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if [p]one comes and preaches (AO)another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a (AP)different spirit which you have not received, or a (AQ)different gospel which you have not accepted, this you (AR)tolerate (AS)very well! 5 For I consider myself (AT)not in the least inferior to the [q]most eminent apostles. 6 But even if I am (AU)unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in (AV)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have (AW)made this evident to you in all things.
7 Or (AX)did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the (AY)gospel of God to you (AZ)without charge? 8 I robbed other churches by (BA)taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was (BB)not a burden to anyone; for when (BC)the brothers came from (BD)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from (BE)being a burden to you, [r]and will continue to do so. 10 (BF)As the truth of Christ is in me, (BG)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of (BH)Achaia. 11 Why? (BI)Because I do not love you? (BJ)God knows that I do!
12 But what I am doing I will also continue to do, (BK)so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be [s]regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are (BL)false apostles, (BM)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even (BN)Satan disguises himself as an (BO)angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, (BP)whose end will be according to their deeds.
16 (BQ)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying [t](BR)as the Lord would, but as (BS)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since (BT)many boast (BU)according to the flesh, I will boast also. 19 For you, (BV)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 20 For you tolerate it if anyone (BW)enslaves you, if anyone (BX)devours you, if anyone (BY)takes advantage of you, if anyone (BZ)exalts himself, if anyone (CA)hits you in the face. 21 To my (CB)shame I must say that we have been (CC)weak by comparison.
But in whatever respect anyone else (CD)is bold—I am (CE)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. 22 Are they (CF)Hebrews? (CG)So am I. Are they (CH)Israelites? (CI)So am I. Are they [u](CJ)descendants of Abraham? (CK)So am I. 23 Are they (CL)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in (CM)far more labors, in (CN)far more imprisonments, [v](CO)beaten times without number, often in danger of (CP)death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews (CQ)thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was (CR)beaten with rods, once I was (CS)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my (CT)countrymen, dangers from the (CU)Gentiles, dangers in the (CV)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among (CW)false brothers; 27 I have been in (CX)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in (CY)hunger and thirst, often (CZ)without food, in cold and [w](DA)exposure. 28 Apart from such [x]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for (DB)all the churches. 29 Who is (DC)weak without my being weak? Who is [y]led into sin [z]without my intense concern?
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my (DD)weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, (DE)He who is blessed forever, (DF)knows that I am not lying. 32 In (DG)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was (DH)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket (DI)through a window [aa]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
Paul’s Vision
12 (DJ)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and (DK)revelations [ab]of the Lord. 2 I know a man (DL)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, (DM)God knows—such a man was (DN)caught up to the (DO)third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, (DP)God knows— 4 was (DQ)caught up into (DR)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 (DS)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my (DT)weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be (DU)foolish, (DV)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
A Thorn in the Flesh
7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the (DW)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a (DX)thorn in the flesh, a (DY)messenger of Satan to [ac]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord (DZ)three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (EA)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (EB)boast [ad]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore (EC)I delight in weaknesses, in [ae]insults, in (ED)distresses, in (EE)persecutions, in (EF)difficulties, (EG)in behalf of Christ; for (EH)when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become (EI)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was (EJ)in no respect inferior to the [af]most eminent apostles, even though (EK)I am a nobody. 12 The (EL)distinguishing marks [ag]of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by [ah]signs, wonders, and [ai]miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that (EM)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me (EN)this wrong!
14 Here (EO)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I (EP)will not be a burden to you; for I (EQ)do not seek what is yours, but (ER)you; for (ES)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but (ET)parents for their children. 15 I will (EU)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If (EV)I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I (EW)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I (EX)took you in by deceit. 17 (EY)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I (EZ)urged (FA)Titus to go, and I sent (FB)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not [aj]conduct ourselves [ak]in the same (FC)spirit and walk (FD)in the same steps?
19 All this time [al]you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, (FE)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and (FF)all for building you up, (FG)beloved. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps (FH)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be (FI)strife, jealousy, (FJ)angry tempers, (FK)selfishness, (FL)slanders, (FM)gossip, (FN)arrogance, (FO)disturbances; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have (FP)sinned in the past and not repented of the (FQ)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 10:1 Lit lowly
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 Or mighty before God
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at... or Do you look at...?
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Lit what is before your face
- 2 Corinthians 10:8 Or more abundantly
- 2 Corinthians 10:9 Lit so that I may not seem
- 2 Corinthians 10:10 Lit bodily presence is weak
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 Or any
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 I.e., evaluate
- 2 Corinthians 10:13 Lit according to the measure
- 2 Corinthians 10:13 Or assignment; lit standard
- 2 Corinthians 10:15 Lit according to our
- 2 Corinthians 10:15 See note 2 v 13
- 2 Corinthians 10:16 Lit to the things prepared in the
- 2 Corinthians 11:1 Or do indeed bear with me
- 2 Corinthians 11:4 Lit the one who comes preaches
- 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or super-apostles
- 2 Corinthians 11:9 Lit and I will keep
- 2 Corinthians 11:12 Lit found
- 2 Corinthians 11:17 Lit in accordance with the Lord
- 2 Corinthians 11:22 Lit seed
- 2 Corinthians 11:23 Lit exceedingly in blows
- 2 Corinthians 11:27 Lit nakedness; i.e., lack of clothing
- 2 Corinthians 11:28 Or the things unmentioned
- 2 Corinthians 11:29 Lit made to stumble
- 2 Corinthians 11:29 Lit and I do not burn
- 2 Corinthians 11:33 Lit through
- 2 Corinthians 12:1 Or from
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 Lit in
- 2 Corinthians 12:10 Or mistreatment
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or super-apostles
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Lit of the apostle
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or confirming miracles
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or works of power
- 2 Corinthians 12:18 Lit walk
- 2 Corinthians 12:18 Or by the same Spirit
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 Or have you been thinking...?
2 Corinthians 10-12
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.
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.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
