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12 For gar we would not ou dare tolmaō to classify enkrinō or ē compare synkrinō ourselves heautou with some tis of those ho who are recommending synistēmi themselves heautou. Rather alla, when metreō they autos measure metreō themselves heautou by en themselves heautou and kai compare synkrinō themselves heautou by themselves heautou, they are without ou understanding syniēmi. 13 We hēmeis, however de, will kauchaomai not ou boast kauchaomai beyond eis · ho proper ametros limits , but alla only within kata the ho measure metron of the ho sphere kanōn of action which hos God theos has assigned merizō to us hēmeis · ho as a measure metron, extending ephikneomai even kai as far as achri you hymeis. 14 For gar it is not ou as hōs though we had not come ephikneomai to eis you hymeis, over-reaching hyperekteinō ourselves heautou, for gar we did come phthanō even kai as far as achri you hymeis with en the ho gospel euangelion of ho Christ Christos. 15 We will not ou go beyond eis · ho proper limits ametros by boasting kauchaomai in en the labors kopos of others allotrios, but de we have echō hope elpis that as your hymeis faith pistis continues to grow auxanō, · ho our hēmeis area of activity kanōn among en you hymeis will be greatly eis enlarged megalynō, · ho 16 so that eis we may preach the gospel euangelizō in places ho beyond hyperekeina you hymeis, not ou boasting about kauchaomai the work already eis done in en another allotrios person’ s territory kanōn. · ho 17 But rather de, “ Let kauchaomai the ho one who boasts kauchaomai, boast kauchaomai in en the Lord kyrios.” 18 For gar it is not ou the ho one who recommends synistēmi himself heautou who ekeinos is eimi approved dokimos, but alla the one whom hos the ho Lord kyrios recommends synistēmi.

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Paul’s Mission

12 For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.[a] 13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits,[b] but will confine our boasting[c] according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us,[d] that reaches even as far as you. 14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.[e] 15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits[f] in the work[g] done by others, but we hope[h] that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded[i] among you according to our limits,[j] 16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area. 17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.[k] 18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:12 tn Or “they are unintelligent.”
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:13 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (eis ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).
  3. 2 Corinthians 10:13 tn The words “will confine our boasting” are not in the Greek text, but the reference to boasting must be repeated from the previous clause to clarify for the modern reader what is being limited.
  4. 2 Corinthians 10:13 tn Grk “according to the measure of the rule which God has apportioned to us as a measure”; for the translation used in the text see L&N 37.100.
  5. 2 Corinthians 10:14 tn Grk “with the gospel of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Christou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “with the gospel about Christ.”
  6. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (eis ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).
  7. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “in the labors.”
  8. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Grk “but we have the hope.”
  9. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “greatly enlarged.”
  10. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.
  11. 2 Corinthians 10:17 tn The traditional translation (“let the one who boasts boast in the Lord”) can be understood as merely permissive by the English reader, but the Greek verb καυχάσθω (kauchasthō) is a third person imperative.sn A quotation from Jer 9:24 (also quoted in 1 Cor 1:31).