2 Corinthians 10
10
Paul’s Defence of His Apostolic Ministry
1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you myself by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold towards you when absent! 2 I implore you that when I am present I may not have* to act boldly with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against some who regard us as walking according to the flesh.* 3 For although we walk in the flesh,* we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but powerful to God for the pulling down of strongholds, 5 tearing down arguments* and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
7 You are perceiving things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced in himself that he belongs to Christ,* let him reflect on this again within himself, that just as he belongs to Christ,* so also are we. 8 For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority which the Lord gave us for building you up and not for pulling you down, I will not be ashamed, 9 so that I may not appear as though I am trying* to intimidate you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and forcible, but his bodily presence* is weak and his speech is held in low regard.” 11 Let such a person reflect on this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such also we will be in action when we are present.
12 For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. 13 But we* will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the sphere of ministry which God has assigned to us—a measure to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we had not reached you,* for we indeed came as far as you with the gospel of Christ— 15 not boasting beyond measure in the labours of others, but having hope that, as your faith increases, our sphere of ministry among you will be greatly enlarged, in alignment with the area of ministry assigned to us, leading to further abundance— 16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions beyond you,* not boasting in the sphere of ministry of another concerning what has already been accomplished.* 17 But “the one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”* 18 For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Notes
2 The modal verb construction I may not have is contextually supplied for clarity
2 Or according to human principles. So also v. 3
3 Or live in the world
5 Or reasonings
7 Greek to be of Christ
7 Greek that just as he is of Christ
9 The present progressive tense I am trying is contextually supplied for clarity
10 Greek the presence of the body
12-13 Three ancient Greek manuscripts omit the expression: 12 … they have no understanding. 13 But we… .
14 Greek reached to you
16 Greek so as to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you
16 Greek not to boast in another's sphere of ministry in things made ready
17 Quoted from Jer. 9:24
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2 Corinthians 10: AFINTLIT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
