Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:
yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
casting down {Or, reasonings Romans 2:15.}imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
{Or, Do ye took…face?}Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we.
For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:
that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.
For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.
Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
For we are not bold {Greek: to judge ourselves among, or to judge ourselves with.}to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.
But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the {Or, limit Greek: measuring-rod.}province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.
For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we {Or, were the first to come}came even as far as unto you in the {Greek: good tidings. See marginal note on chapter 2:12.}gospel of Christ:
not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our {Or, limit Greek: measuring-rod.}province unto further abundance,
so as to {Greek: bring good tidings. Compare Matthew 11:5.}preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's {Or, limit Greek: measuring-rod.}province in regard of things ready to our hand.
{Jeremiah 9:24.}But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Querverweise zu 2. Korinther 10,14 2Kor 10,14
Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?
Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;
being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.
in whom the god of this {Or, age}world hath blinded the {Greek: thoughts. Chapter 4:4, 11:3}minds of the unbelieving, {Or, that they should not see the light…image of God}that the {Greek: illumination.}light of the {See marginal note on chapter 2:12.}gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
For I will not dare to speak of any {Greek: of those things which Christ wrought not through me.}things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the {Greek: nations. Compare Matthew 4.15.}Gentiles, by word and deed,
The beginning of the {Or, good tidings: and so elsewhere.}gospel of Jesus Christ, {Some ancient authorities omit the Son of God.}the Son of God.
in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of {Many ancient authorities read the Spirit of God. One reads the Spirit.}the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have {Greek: fulfilled. Compare Colossians 1:25.}fully preached the {See marginal note on chapter 1:1}gospel of Christ;
But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, {Or, in comparison of accomplishing my course }so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the {Or, good tidings}gospel of the grace of God.
{Some ancient authorities read For.}But unto us God revealed {Or, it}them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For I am not ashamed of the {Greek: good tidings: and so elsewhere. See marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.
in the day when God {Or, judgeth}shall judge the secrets of men, according to my {See marginal notes on chapter 1:1.}gospel, by Jesus Christ.
According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.
{Some ancient authorities omit verse 25-27. Compare the end of chapter 14.}Now to him that is able to establish you according to my {See marginal note on chapter 1:1}gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,
For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the {Greek: good tidings. See marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel.
I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different {Greek: good tidings. See marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel;
{Or, which is nothing else save that there &c.}which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the {Greek: good tidings. See marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, should {See marginal note on Matthew 11:5.}preach {Some ancient authorities omit unto you.}unto you any gospel {Or, contrary to that}other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the {Greek: good tidings: and so elsewhere; see marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel,
If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
according to the {Or, good tidings. See Matthew 4:23 margin}gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.