2 Korintus 10:10-13

10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak ¹  and his speech is of no account.” ²  10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say ³  by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

Paul’s Mission

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. ⁴  10:13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ⁵  but will confine our boasting ⁶  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ⁷  that reaches even as far as you.

2 Korintus 10:18

10:18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

[10:10]  ¹ tn Or “unimpressive.”

[10:10]  ² tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”

[10:11]  ³ tn Grk “what we are in word.”

[10:12]  ⁴ tn Or “they are unintelligent.”

[10:13]  ⁵ 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).

[10:13]  ⁶ 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.

[10:13]  ⁷ 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.