10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you 1 personally 2 by the meekness and gentleness 3 of Christ (I who am meek 4 when present among 5 you, but am full of courage 6 toward you when away!) – 10:2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving 7 according to human standards. 8 10:3 For though we live 9 as human beings, 10 we do not wage war according to human standards, 11 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, 12 but are made powerful by God 13 for tearing down strongholds. 14 We tear down arguments 15 10:5 and every arrogant obstacle 16 that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey 17 Christ. 10:6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, 18 whenever your obedience is complete. 10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. 19 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 20 for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so. 21 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 22 and his speech is of no account.” 23 10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say 24 by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.
10:12 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. 25 10:13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, 26 but will confine our boasting 27 according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, 28 that reaches even as far as you. 10:14 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. 29 10:15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits 30 in the work 31 done by others, but we hope 32 that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded 33 among you according to our limits, 34 10:16 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. 10:17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. 35 10:18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.
11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, 36 to present you as a pure 37 virgin to Christ. 11:3 But I am afraid that 38 just as the serpent 39 deceived Eve by his treachery, 40 your minds may be led astray 41 from a sincere and pure 42 devotion to Christ. 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims 43 another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, 44 or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, 45 or a different gospel than the one you accepted, 46 you put up with it well enough! 47 11:5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.” 48 11:6 And even if I am unskilled 49 in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way. 11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself 50 so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed 51 the gospel of God to you free of charge? 11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you! 52 11:9 When 53 I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. 54 I 55 kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine 56 will not be stopped 57 in the regions of Achaia. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 58 11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals 59 in the things they boast about. 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful 60 workers, disguising themselves 61 as apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself 62 as an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves 63 as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions. 64
11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. 65 But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 11:17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence 66 I do not say the way the Lord would. 67 Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. 11:18 Since many 68 are boasting according to human standards, 69 I too will boast. 11:19 For since you are so wise, you put up with 70 fools gladly. 11:20 For you put up with 71 it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly 72 toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 11:21 (To my disgrace 73 I must say that we were too weak for that!) 74 But whatever anyone else dares to boast about 75 (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. 76 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 77 11:25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. 78 Once I received a stoning. 79 Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. 11:26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, 80 in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, 81 in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 11:27 in hard work and toil, 82 through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. 83 11:28 Apart from other things, 84 there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern 85 for all the churches. 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, 86 and I do not burn with indignation? 11:30 If I must boast, 87 I will boast about the things that show my weakness. 88 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. 11:32 In Damascus, the governor 89 under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus 90 in order to arrest 91 me, 11:33 but I was let down in a rope-basket 92 through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.
12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting. 93 Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 12:4 was caught up into paradise 94 and heard things too sacred to be put into words, 95 things that a person 96 is not permitted to speak. 12:5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling 97 the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard 98 me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, 99 so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble 100 me – so that I would not become arrogant. 101 12:8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 12:9 But 102 he said to me, “My grace is enough 103 for you, for my 104 power is made perfect 105 in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly 106 about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in 107 me. 12:10 Therefore I am content with 108 weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties 109 for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison 110 to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12:12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance 111 by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. 112 12:13 For how 113 were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! 12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have 114 to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 12:15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! 115 If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 12:16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! 12:17 I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I? 116 12:18 I urged Titus to visit you 117 and I sent our 118 brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? 119 Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way? 120 12:19 Have you been thinking all this time 121 that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. 122 12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me 123 not what you wish. I am afraid that 124 somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, 125 slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 12:21 I am afraid that 126 when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for 127 many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.
13:1 This is the third time I am coming to visit 128 you. By the testimony 129 of two or three witnesses every matter will be established. 130 13:2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, 131 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He 132 is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. 13:4 For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you. 13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! 133 13:6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test! 134 13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, 135 but so that you may do what is right 136 even if we may appear to have failed the test. 137 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. 13:9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. 138 13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive 139 I may not have to deal harshly with you 140 by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, 141 rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 13:12 142 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship 143 of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
1 tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.
2 tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.
3 tn Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1): Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment (2 Cor 10:1-13:10)” (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1998), argues for this alternative translation for three main reasons: (1) When the two Greek nouns πραΰτης and ἐπιείκεια (prauth" and ejpieikeia) are used together, 90% of the time the nuance is “leniency and clemency.” (2) “Leniency and clemency” has a military connotation, which is precisely what appears in the following verses. (3) 2 Cor 10-13 speaks of Paul’s sparing use of his authority, which points to the nuance of “leniency and clemency.”
4 tn Or “who lack confidence.”
5 tn Or “when face to face with.”
6 tn Or “but bold.”
7 tn Grk “consider us as walking.”
8 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
9 tn Grk “we walk.”
10 tn Grk “in the flesh.”
11 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
12 tn Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
13 tn Or “but (are) divinely powerful,” “but they have divine power,” or “but are powerful for God’s [service]”; Grk “but are powerful to God.”
14 sn Ultimately Paul is referring here to the false arguments of his opponents, calling them figuratively “strongholds.” This Greek word (ὀχύρωμα, ocurwma) is used only here in the NT.
15 tn Or “speculations.”
16 tn The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).
17 tn Grk “to the obedience of Christ”; but since Χριστοῦ (Cristou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “to make it obey Christ.”
18 tn Or “punish all disobedience.”
19 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).
20 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.
21 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).
22 tn Or “unimpressive.”
23 tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”
24 tn Grk “what we are in word.”
25 tn Or “they are unintelligent.”
26 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (ei" 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).
27 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.
28 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.
29 tn Grk “with the gospel of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Cristou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “with the gospel about Christ.”
30 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (ei" 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).
31 tn Or “in the labors.”
32 tn Grk “but we have the hope.”
33 tn Or “greatly enlarged.”
34 tn That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.
35 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 (kaucasqw) is a third person imperative.
36 tn That is, to Christ.
37 tn Or “chaste.”
38 tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”
39 tn Or “the snake.”
40 tn Or “craftiness.”
41 tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”
42 tc Although most
43 tn Or “preaches.”
44 tn Grk “another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed.”
45 tn Grk “a different spirit which you did not receive.”
46 tn Grk “a different gospel which you did not accept.”
47 tn Or “you endure it very well.”
48 tn The implicit irony in Paul’s remark is brought out well by the TEV: “I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called ‘apostles’ of yours!”
49 sn Unskilled in speaking means not professionally trained as a rhetorician.
50 sn Paul is referring to humbling himself to the point of doing manual labor to support himself.
51 tn Or “preached.”
52 sn That is, serve them free of charge (cf. the end of v. 7).
53 tn Grk “you, and when.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
54 tn If the participle ἐλθόντες (elqonte") is taken as temporal rather than adjectival, the translation would be, “for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, fully supplied my needs” (similar to NASB).
55 tn Grk “needs, and I kept.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
56 tn That is, that Paul offers the gospel free of charge to the Corinthians (see 2 Cor 11:7).
57 tn Or “silenced.”
58 tn Grk “God knows!” The words “I do” are supplied for clarity. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
59 tn Grk “an opportunity, so that they may be found just like us.”
60 tn Or “dishonest.”
61 tn Or “workers, masquerading.”
62 tn Or “Satan himself masquerades.”
63 tn Or “also masquerade.”
64 tn Or “their works.”
65 tn Or “am foolish.”
66 tn Grk “with this confidence of boasting.” The genitive καυχήσεως (kauchsew") has been translated as an attributed genitive (the noun in the genitive gives an attribute of the noun modified).
67 tn Or “say with the Lord’s authority.”
68 sn Many is a reference to Paul’s opponents.
69 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
70 tn Or “you tolerate.”
71 tn Or “you tolerate.”
72 tn See L&N 88.212.
73 tn Or “my shame.”
74 sn It seems best, in context, to see the statement we were too weak for that as a parenthetical and ironic comment by Paul on his physical condition (weakness or sickness) while he was with the Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor 12:7-10; Gal 4:15).
75 tn The words “to boast about” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and this phrase serves as the direct object of the preceding verb.
76 tn Grk “I also dare”; the words “to boast about the same thing” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and this phrase serves as the direct object of the preceding verb.
77 tn Grk “forty less one”; this was a standard sentence. “Lashes” is supplied to clarify for the modern reader what is meant.
78 sn Beaten with a rod refers to the Roman punishment of admonitio according to BDAG 902 s.v. ῥαβδίζω. Acts 16:22 describes one of these occasions in Philippi; in this case it was administered by the city magistrates, who had wide powers in a military colony.
79 sn Received a stoning. See Acts 14:19, where this incident is described.
80 tn Or “bandits.” The word normally refers more to highwaymen (“robbers”) but can also refer to insurrectionists or revolutionaries (“bandits”).
81 tn Or “desert.”
82 tn The two different words for labor are translated “in hard work and toil” by L&N 42.48.
83 tn Grk “in cold and nakedness.” Paul does not mean complete nakedness, however, which would have been repugnant to a Jew; he refers instead to the lack of sufficient clothing, especially in cold weather. A related word is used to 1 Cor 4:11, also in combination with experiencing hunger and thirst.
84 sn Apart from other things. Paul refers here either (1) to the external sufferings just mentioned, or (2) he refers to other things he has left unmentioned.
85 tn “Anxious concern,” so translated in L&N 25.224.
86 tn Or “who is caused to stumble.”
87 tn Grk “If boasting is necessary.”
88 tn Or “about the things related to my weakness.”
89 tn Grk “ethnarch.”
90 tn Grk “the city of the Damascenes.”
91 tn Or “to seize,” “to catch.”
92 tn In Acts 9:25 the same basket used in Paul’s escape is called a σπυρίς (spuri"), a basket larger than a κόφινος (kofinos). It was very likely made out of rope, so the translation “rope-basket” is used.
93 tn Grk “Boasting is necessary.”
94 sn In the NT, paradise is mentioned three times. In Luke 23:43 it refers to the abode of the righteous dead. In Rev 2:7 it refers to the restoration of Edenic paradise predicted in Isa 51:3 and Ezek 36:35. The reference here in 2 Cor 12:4 is probably to be translated as parallel to the mention of the “third heaven” in v. 2. Assuming that the “first heaven” would be atmospheric heaven (the sky) and “second heaven” the more distant stars and planets, “third heaven” would refer to the place where God dwells. This is much more likely than some variation on the seven heavens mentioned in the pseudepigraphic book 2 Enoch and in other nonbiblical and rabbinic works.
95 tn Or “things that cannot be put into words.”
96 tn Grk “a man.”
97 tn Or “speaking.”
98 tn Or “may think of.”
99 tc Most
100 tn Or “to harass.”
101 tn The phrase “so that I might not become arrogant” is repeated here because it occurs in the Greek text two times in the verse. Although redundant, it is repeated because of the emphatic nature of its affirmation.
102 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.
103 tn Or “is sufficient.”
104 tc The majority of later
105 tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”
106 tn “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.
107 tn Or “may rest on.”
108 tn Or “I take delight in.”
109 tn Or “calamities.”
110 tn Or “I am in no way inferior.”
111 tn Or “patience,” “endurance.”
112 tn Or “and miracles.”
113 tn Grk “For in what respect.”
114 tn Grk “children ought not,” but this might give the impression that children are not supposed to support sick or aging parents in need of help. That is not what Paul is saying. His point is that children should not have to pay their parent’s way.
115 tn Grk “souls.”
116 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer, indicated by the ‘tag’ question “have I?” at the end of the clause. The question is rhetorical.
117 tn The words “to visit you” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the modern reader.
118 tn Grk “the.”
119 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer, indicated by the ‘tag’ question “did he?” at the end of the clause.
120 tn Grk “[Did we not walk] in the same tracks?” This is an idiom that means to imitate someone else or to behave as they do. Paul’s point is that he and Titus have conducted themselves in the same way toward the Corinthians. If Titus did not take advantage of the Corinthians, then neither did Paul.
121 tc The reading “all this time” (πάλαι, palai) is found in several early and important Alexandrian and Western witnesses including א* A B F G 0243 6 33 81 365 1175 1739 1881 lat; the reading πάλιν (palin, “again”) is read by א2 D Ψ 0278 Ï sy bo; the reading οὐ πάλαι (ou palai) is read by Ì46, making the question even more emphatic. The reading of Ì46 could only have arisen from πάλαι. The reading πάλιν is significantly easier (“are you once again thinking that we are defending ourselves?”), for it softens Paul’s tone considerably. It thus seems to be a motivated reading and cannot easily explain the rise of πάλαι. Further, πάλαι has considerable support in the Alexandrian and Western witnesses, rendering it virtually certain as the original wording here.
122 tn Or “for your strengthening”; Grk “for your edification.”
123 tn Grk “and I will be found by you.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation.
124 tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text, but are needed for clarity.
125 tn Or “intense anger, hostility.”
126 tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text from v. 20, but are needed for clarity.
127 tn Or “I will mourn over.”
128 tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
129 tn Grk “By the mouth.”
130 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
131 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
132 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
133 tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
134 tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”
135 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
136 tn Or “what is good.”
137 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
138 tn Or “fully equipped.”
139 tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”
140 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
141 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
142 sn The versification of vv. 12 and 13 in the NET
143 tn Or “communion.”