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2 Corinthians 10-13
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Apostolic Authority

10 Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. 2 I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way.[a](A) 3 For though we live in the body,[b] we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,[c] 4 since the weapons of our warfare(B) are not worldly,[d] but are powerful(C) through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge(D) of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.

7 Look at what is obvious.[e] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ,(E) he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. 8 For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up(F) and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed. 9 I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. 10 For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable.” 11 Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.

12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend(G) themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves,(H) they lack understanding.(I) 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned(J) to us, which reaches even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not bragging beyond measure about other people’s labors. But we have the hope(K) that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may proclaim the good news to the regions beyond you,(L) not boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry.(M) 17 So the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.(N)[f] 18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.(O)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness(P) from me. Yes, do put up with me.[g] 2 For I am jealous(Q) over you with a godly jealousy,(R) because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure(S) virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpent(T) deceived(U) Eve(V) by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure[h] devotion to Christ.(W) 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,(X) whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,(Y) which you had not received, or a different gospel,(Z) which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”(AA) 6 Though untrained in public speaking,(AB) I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.(AC) Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything. 7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling(AD) myself so that you might be exalted,(AE) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?(AF) 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. 9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia(AG) supplied my needs.(AH) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped[i] in the regions of Achaia.(AI) 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny[j] the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,(AJ) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny[k] will be according to their works.(AK)

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

16 I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little. 17 What I say in this matter[l] of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly. 18 Since many boast in an unspiritual way,[m] I will also boast. 19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!(AL) 20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours(AM) you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits(AN) you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been weak.

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

22 Are they Hebrews?(AO) So am I.
Are they Israelites? So am I.
Are they the seed of Abraham?(AP) So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ?
I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one:
with far more labors,
many more imprisonments,
far worse beatings, near death[n] many times.
24 Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.(AQ)
25 Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans.(AR)
Once I was stoned by my enemies.[o](AS)
Three times I was shipwrecked.(AT)
I have spent a night and a day
in the open sea.
26 On frequent journeys, I faced
dangers from rivers,
dangers from robbers,(AU)
dangers from my own people,(AV)
dangers from the Gentiles,
dangers in the city,
dangers in the open country,
dangers on the sea,
and dangers among false brothers;
27 labor and hardship,
many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst,
often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.(AW)

28 Not to mention[p] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,(AX) and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Father(AY) of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying. 32 In Damascus,(AZ) the governor under King Aretas[q] guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, 33 so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.(BA)

Sufficient Grace

12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions(BB) and revelations(BC) of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up(BD) into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows. 3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows— 4 was caught up into paradise.(BE) He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak. 5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. 6 For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth.(BF) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh(BG) was given to me, a messenger[r] of Satan(BH) to torment me so I would not exalt myself. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[s](BI) is perfected in weakness.”(BJ) Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ.(BK) For when I am weak, then I am strong.(BL)

Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.(BM) 12 The signs(BN) of an apostle(BO) were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders(BP) and miracles.(BQ) 13 So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time.(BR) I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.[t](BS) If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 Now granted, I have not burdened(BT) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!(BU) 17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you? 18 I urged Titus(BV) to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit(BW) and in the same footsteps?

19 You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.[u] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.(BX) 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want;[v] there may be quarreling,(BY) jealousy,(BZ) outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,(CA) slander,(CB) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.(CC) 21 I fear that when I come my God will again[w] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented(CD) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,(CE) and promiscuity(CF) they practiced.

Final Warnings and Exhortations

13 This is the third time I am coming to you.(CG) Every fact must be established by the testimony[x] of two or three witnesses.(CH)[y] 2 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning(CI) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.(CJ) He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. 4 In fact, He was crucified(CK) in weakness, but He lives(CL) by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him,(CM) yet toward you we will live(CN) with Him by God’s power.

5 Test(CO) yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.[z] 6 And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,(CP) even though we may appear to fail. 8 For we are not able to do anything against the truth,(CQ) but only for the truth. 9 In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.(CR) We also pray that you become fully mature.[aa] 10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up(CS) and not for tearing down.(CT)

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind,(CU) be at peace,(CV) and the God of love(CW) and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(CX) All the saints greet you.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love(CY) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.[ab](CZ)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:2 Or are living as a non-Christian; lit are walking according to flesh
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:3 Lit flesh
  3. 2 Corinthians 10:3 Lit war according to flesh
  4. 2 Corinthians 10:4 Lit fleshly
  5. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or You are looking at things outwardly
  6. 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jr 9:24
  7. 2 Corinthians 11:1 Or Yes, you are putting up with me
  8. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Other mss omit and pure
  9. 2 Corinthians 11:10 Or silenced
  10. 2 Corinthians 11:12 Lit cut off
  11. 2 Corinthians 11:15 Lit end
  12. 2 Corinthians 11:17 Or business, or confidence
  13. 2 Corinthians 11:18 Lit boast according to the flesh
  14. 2 Corinthians 11:23 Lit and in deaths
  15. 2 Corinthians 11:25 A common Jewish method of capital punishment; Ac 14:5
  16. 2 Corinthians 11:28 Lit Apart from
  17. 2 Corinthians 11:32 Aretus IV (9 b.c.–a.d. 40), a Nabatean Arab king
  18. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Or me, an angel
  19. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Other mss read My power
  20. 2 Corinthians 12:15 Lit for your souls, or for your lives
  21. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Or Have you thought . . . to you?
  22. 2 Corinthians 12:20 Lit be as you want
  23. 2 Corinthians 12:21 Or come again my God will
  24. 2 Corinthians 13:1 Lit mouth
  25. 2 Corinthians 13:1 Dt 17:6; 19:15
  26. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Or you are disqualified, or you are counterfeit
  27. 2 Corinthians 13:9 Or become complete, or be restored
  28. 2 Corinthians 13:13 Some translations divide these 2 vv. into 3 vv. so that v. 13 begins with All the saints . . . and v. 14 begins with The grace of . . .
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2 Corinthians 10-13
New International Version

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness(A) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,(B) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold(C) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.(D) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.(E) 4 The weapons we fight with(F) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power(G) to demolish strongholds.(H) 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,(I) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient(J) to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.(K)

7 You are judging by appearances.[a](L) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,(M) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.(N) 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us(O) for building you up rather than tearing you down,(P) I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive(Q) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”(R) 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.(S) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,(T) a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you(U) with the gospel of Christ.(V) 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits(W) by boasting of work done by others.(X) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,(Y) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel(Z) in the regions beyond you.(AA) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b](AB) 18 For it is not the one who commends himself(AC) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(AD)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I hope you will put up with(AE) me in a little foolishness.(AF) Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,(AG) to Christ, so that I might present you(AH) as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,(AI) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,(AJ) or if you receive a different spirit(AK) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel(AL) from the one you accepted, you put up with it(AM) easily enough.

5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[c](AN) 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,(AO) but I do have knowledge.(AP) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin(AQ) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God(AR) to you free of charge?(AS) 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them(AT) so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.(AU) I have kept myself from being a burden to you(AV) in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,(AW) nobody in the regions of Achaia(AX) will stop this boasting(AY) of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows(AZ) I do!(BA)

12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,(BB) deceitful(BC) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.(BD) 14 And no wonder, for Satan(BE) himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.(BF)

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.(BG) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,(BH) but as a fool.(BI) 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does,(BJ) I too will boast.(BK) 19 You gladly put up with(BL) fools since you are so wise!(BM) 20 In fact, you even put up with(BN) anyone who enslaves you(BO) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak(BP) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.(BQ) 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.(BR) Are they Israelites? So am I.(BS) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(BT) 23 Are they servants of Christ?(BU) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,(BV) been in prison more frequently,(BW) been flogged more severely,(BX) and been exposed to death again and again.(BY) 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes(BZ) minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,(CA) once I was pelted with stones,(CB) three times I was shipwrecked,(CC) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,(CD) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,(CE) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.(CF) 27 I have labored and toiled(CG) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;(CH) I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.(CI) 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?(CJ) Who is led into sin,(CK) and I do not inwardly burn?

30 If I must boast, I will boast(CL) of the things that show my weakness.(CM) 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,(CN) knows(CO) that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.(CP) 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.(CQ)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.(CR) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(CS) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ(CT) who fourteen years ago was caught up(CU) to the third heaven.(CV) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(CW) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up(CX) to paradise(CY) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(CZ) 6 Even if I should choose to boast,(DA) I would not be a fool,(DB) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(DC) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(DD) a messenger of Satan,(DE) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(DF) 9 But he said to me, “My grace(DG) is sufficient for you, for my power(DH) is made perfect in weakness.(DI)”(DJ) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(DK) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(DL) in persecutions,(DM) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(DN)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11 I have made a fool of myself,(DO) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[d](DP) even though I am nothing.(DQ) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(DR) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(DS) Forgive me this wrong!(DT)

14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(DU) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(DV) but parents for their children.(DW) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(DX) If I love you more,(DY) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(DZ) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(EA) Titus(EB) to go to you and I sent our brother(EC) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(ED) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(EE) is for your strengthening.(EF) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(EG) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(EH) I fear that there may be discord,(EI) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(EJ) slander,(EK) gossip,(EL) arrogance(EM) and disorder.(EN) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(EO) over many who have sinned earlier(EP) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(EQ) in which they have indulged.

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.(ER) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[e](ES) 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:(ET) On my return I will not spare(EU) those who sinned earlier(EV) or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(EW) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(EX) yet he lives by God’s power.(EY) Likewise, we are weak(EZ) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(FA) in our dealing with you.

5 Examine yourselves(FB) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(FC) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(FD)—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak(FE) but you are strong;(FF) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(FG) 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh(FH) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.(FI)

Final Greetings

11 Finally, brothers and sisters,(FJ) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.(FK) And the God of love(FL) and peace(FM) will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(FN) 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.(FO)

14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,(FP) and the love of God,(FQ) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit(FR) be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at the obvious facts
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24
  3. 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles
  5. 2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15
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