2 Corinthians 10:7-11

10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. ¹  If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we. 10:8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us ²  for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so. ³  10:9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, 10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak ⁴  and his speech is of no account.” ⁵  10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say ⁶  by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

¹ tn The phrase is close to a recognized idiom for judging based on outward appearances (L&N 30.120). Some translators see a distinction, however, and translate 2 Cor 10:7a as “Look at what is in front of your eyes,” that is, the obvious facts of the case (so NRSV).

² tn The word “us” is not in the Greek text but is supplied. Indirect objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the modern English reader.

³ tn Grk “I will not be put to shame,” “I will not be ashamed.” The words “of doing so” are supplied to clarify for the reader that Paul will not be ashamed of boasting somewhat more about the authority the Lord gave him (beginning of v. 8).

⁴ tn Or “unimpressive.”

⁵ tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”

⁶ tn Grk “what we are in word.”