^10:1Now I, Paul, appeal to you¹ personally² by the meekness and gentleness³ of Christ (I who am meek⁴ when present among⁵ you, but am full of courage⁶ toward you when away!)—^10:2now 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 behaving⁷ according to human standards.⁸^10:3For though we live⁹ as human beings,¹⁰ we do not wage war according to human standards,¹¹^10:4for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons,¹² but are made powerful by God¹³ for tearing down strongholds.¹⁴ We tear down arguments¹⁵^10:5and every arrogant obstacle¹⁶ that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey¹⁷ Christ. ^10:6We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience,¹⁸ whenever your obedience is complete. ^10:7You 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. ^10:8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us²⁰ for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.²¹^10:9I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, ^10:10because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak²² and his speech is of no account.”²³^10:11Let such a person consider this: What we say²⁴ by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

Paul’s Mission

^10:12For 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.²⁵^10:13But we will not boast beyond certain limits,²⁶ but will confine our boasting²⁷ according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us,²⁸ that reaches even as far as you. ^10:14For 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.²⁹^10:15Nor do we boast beyond certain limits³⁰ in the work³¹ done by others, but we hope³² that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded³³ among you according to our limits,³⁴^10:16so 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. ^10:17But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.³⁵^10:18For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

Paul and His Opponents

^11:1I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! ^11:2For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband,¹ to present you as a pure² virgin to Christ. ^11:3But I am afraid that³ just as the serpent⁴ deceived Eve by his treachery,⁵ your minds may be led astray⁶ from a sincere and pure⁷ devotion to Christ. ^11:4For if someone comes and proclaims⁸ another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed,⁹ or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received,¹⁰ or a different gospel than the one you accepted,¹¹ you put up with it well enough!¹²^11:5For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.”¹³^11:6And even if I am unskilled¹⁴ in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way. ^11:7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself¹⁵ so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed¹⁶ the gospel of God to you free of charge? ^11:8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!¹⁷^11:9When¹⁸ 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.¹⁹ I²⁰ kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ^11:10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine²¹ will not be stopped²² in the regions of Achaia. ^11:11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!²³^11:12And 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 equals²⁴ in the things they boast about. ^11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful²⁵ workers, disguising themselves²⁶ as apostles of Christ. ^11:14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself²⁷ as an angel of light. ^11:15Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves²⁸ as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.²⁹

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

^11:16I say again, let no one think that I am a fool.³⁰ But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. ^11:17What I am saying with this boastful confidence³¹ I do not say the way the Lord would.³² Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. ^11:18Since many³³ are boasting according to human standards,³⁴ I too will boast. ^11:19For since you are so wise, you put up with³⁵ fools gladly. ^11:20For you put up with³⁶ it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly³⁷ toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. ^11:21(To my disgrace³⁸ I must say that we were too weak for that!)³⁹ But whatever anyone else dares to boast about⁴⁰ (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.⁴¹^11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. ^11:23Are 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. ^11:24Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one.⁴²^11:25Three times I was beaten with a rod.⁴³ Once I received a stoning.⁴⁴ Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. ^11:26I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers,⁴⁵ in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness,⁴⁶ in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, ^11:27in hard work and toil,⁴⁷ through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing.⁴⁸^11:28Apart from other things,⁴⁹ there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern⁵⁰ for all the churches. ^11:29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin,⁵¹ and I do not burn with indignation? ^11:30If I must boast,⁵² I will boast about the things that show my weakness.⁵³^11:31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. ^11:32In Damascus, the governor⁵⁴ under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus⁵⁵ in order to arrest⁵⁶ me, ^11:33but I was let down in a rope-basket⁵⁷ through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

^12:1It is necessary to go on boasting.¹ Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ^12:2I 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. ^12:3And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) ^12:4was caught up into paradise² and heard things too sacred to be put into words,³ things that a person⁴ is not permitted to speak. ^12:5On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. ^12:6For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling⁵ the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard⁶ me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, ^12:7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore,⁷ so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble⁸ me—so that I would not become arrogant.⁹^12:8I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. ^12:9But¹⁰ he said to me, “My grace is enough¹¹ for you, for my¹² power is made perfect¹³ in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly¹⁴ about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in¹⁵ me. ^12:10Therefore I am content with¹⁶ weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties¹⁷ for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

The Signs of an Apostle

^12:11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison¹⁸ to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. ^12:12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance¹⁹ by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.²⁰^12:13For how²¹ were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! ^12:14Look, 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 have²² to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. ^12:15Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives!²³ If I love you more, am I to be loved less? ^12:16But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! ^12:17I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?²⁴^12:18I urged Titus to visit you²⁵ and I sent our²⁶ brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he?²⁷ Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?²⁸^12:19Have you been thinking all this time²⁹ that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and…

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Footnotes

1 The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.
2 The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.
3 Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ: Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment” (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 (prautēs 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 Or “who lack confidence.”
5 Or “when face to face with.”
6 Or “but bold.”
7 Grk “consider us as walking.”
8 Grk “according to the flesh.”
9 Grk “we walk.”
10 Grk “in the flesh.”
11 Grk “according to the flesh.”
12 Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
13 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 Ultimately Paul is referring here to the false arguments of his opponents, calling them figuratively “strongholds.” This Greek word (ὀχύρωμα, ochurōma) is used only here in the NT.
15 Or “speculations.”
16 The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).
17 Grk “to the obedience of Christ”; but since Χριστοῦ (Christou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “to make it obey Christ.”
18 Or “punish all disobedience.”
19 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 ).
20 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 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 Or “unimpressive.”
23 Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”
24 Grk “what we are in word.”
25 Or “they are unintelligent.”
26 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).
27 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 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 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.”
30 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).
31 Or “in the labors.”
32 Grk “but we have the hope.”
33 Or “greatly enlarged.”
34 That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.
35 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. A quotation from Jer 9:24 (also quoted in 1 Cor 1:31).
1 That is, to Christ.
2 Or “chaste.”
3 Grk “I fear lest somehow.”
4 Or “the snake.”
5 Or “craftiness.”
6 Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”
7 Although most (א2 H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 𝔐) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai tēs hagnotētos; Grk “and purity”) several important and early witnesses (𝔓46 א* B D[2] F G 33 81 104 ar r co) retain these words. Their presence in such across such a wide geographical distribution argues for their authenticity. The omission from the majority of can be explained by haplography, since the -τητος ending of ἁγνότητος is identical to the ending of ἁπλότητος (haplotētos, “sincerity”) three words back (ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος); further, since the meanings of “sincerity” and “purity” are similar they might seem redundant. A copyist would scarcely notice the omission because Paul’s statement still makes sense without “and from purity.”
8 Or “preaches.”
9 Grk “another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed.”
10 Grk “a different spirit which you did not receive.”
11 Grk “a different gospel which you did not accept.”
12 Or “you endure it very well.”
13 The implicit irony in Paul’s remark is brought out well by the : “I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called ‘apostles’ of yours!” The ‘super-apostles’ refers either (1) to the original apostles (the older interpretation) or (2) more probably, to Paul’s opponents in Corinth, in which case the designation is ironic.
14 Unskilled in speaking means not professionally trained as a rhetorician.
15 Paul is referring to humbling himself to the point of doing manual labor to support himself.
16 Or “preached.”
17 That is, serve them free of charge (cf. the end of v. 7).
18 Grk “you, and when.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
19 If the participle ἐλθόντες (elthontes) 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 ).
20 Grk “needs, and I kept.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
21 That is, that Paul offers the gospel free of charge to the Corinthians (see 2 Cor 11:7).
22 Or “silenced.”
23 Grk “God knows!” The words “I do” are supplied for clarity. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
24 Grk “an opportunity, so that they may be found just like us.”
25 Or “dishonest.”
26 Or “workers, masquerading.”
27 Or “Satan himself masquerades.”
28 Or “also masquerade.”
29 Or “their works.”
30 Or “am foolish.”
31 Grk “with this confidence of boasting.” The genitive καυχήσεως (kauchēseōs) has been translated as an attributed genitive (the noun in the genitive gives an attribute of the noun modified).
32 Or “say with the Lord’s authority.”
33 Many is a reference to Paul’s opponents.
34 Grk “according to the flesh.”
35 Or “you tolerate.”
36 Or “you tolerate.”
38 Or “my shame.”
39 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).
40 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.
41 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.
42 Grk “forty less one”; this was a standard sentence. “Lashes” is supplied to clarify for the modern reader what is meant.
43 Beaten with a rod refers to the Roman punishment of admonitio according to 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.
44 Received a stoning. See Acts 14:19, where this incident is described.
45 Or “bandits.” The word normally refers more to highwaymen (“robbers”) but can also refer to insurrectionists or revolutionaries (“bandits”).
46 Or “desert.”
47 The two different words for labor are translated “in hard work and toil” by L&N 42.48.
48 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.
49 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.
50 “Anxious concern,” so translated in L&N 25.224.
51 Or “who is caused to stumble.”
52 Grk “If boasting is necessary.”
53 Or “about the things related to my weakness.”
54 Grk “ethnarch.” The governor was an official called an ethnarch who was appointed to rule over a particular area or constituency on behalf of a king.
55 Grk “the city of the Damascenes.”
56 Or “to seize,” “to catch.”
57 In Acts 9:25 the same basket used in Paul’s escape is called a σπυρίς (spuris), a basket larger than a κόφινος (kophinos). It was very likely made out of rope, so the translation “rope-basket” is used.
1 Grk “Boasting is necessary.”
2 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.
3 Or “things that cannot be put into words.”
4 Grk “a man.”
5 Or “speaking.”
6 Or “may think of.”
7 Most (𝔓46 D Ψ 1881 𝔐) lack διό (dio, “Therefore”), but the widespread distribution and quality of which include it (א A B F G 0243 33 81 1175 1739 ) argues for its authenticity. Internally, its case is equally strong in that its inclusion is grammatically rough (διό is hardly necessary to convey purpose, especially since Paul uses ἵνα [hina, “so that“] next).
8 Or “to harass.”
9 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.
10 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.
11 Or “is sufficient.”
12 The majority of later (א2 Ac D1 Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 𝔐) as well as some versional witnesses include the pronoun “my” here, but the omission of the pronoun has excellent external support (𝔓46vid א* A* B D* F G latt). Scribes probably added the pronoun for clarity, making the obvious referent explicit. This would also make “power” more parallel with “my grace.” Though the original text probably did not include “my,” scribes who added the word were following the sense of Paul’s statement. The pronoun “my” was supplied in the translation to clarify the sense of Paul’s expression.
13 Or “my power comes to full strength.”
14 “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.
15 Or “may rest on.”
16 Or “I take delight in.”
17 Or “calamities.”
18 Or “I am in no way inferior.”
19 Or “patience,” “endurance.”
20 Or “and miracles.”
21 Grk “For in what respect.”
22 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.
23 Grk “souls.”
24 The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer, indicated by the ‘tag’ question “have I?” at the end of the clause. The question is rhetorical.
25 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.
26 Grk “the.”
27 The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer, indicated by the ‘tag’ question “did he?” at the end of the clause.
28 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.
29 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 𝔐 sy bo; the reading οὐ πάλαι (ou palai) is read by 𝔓46, making the question even more emphatic. The reading of 𝔓46 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.

Cross references

37 See L&N 88.212.