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2 Corinthians 10:13-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Corinthians 10:13-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 But we will not boast beyond measure but will keep to the limits[a] God has apportioned us, namely, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overreaching ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we indeed first came to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not boasting beyond measure, in other people’s labors; yet our hope is that, as your faith increases, our influence among you may be greatly enlarged, within our proper limits, 16 so that we may preach the gospel even beyond you, not boasting of work already done in another’s sphere.(A) 17 (B)“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”[b] 18 For it is not the one who recommends himself who is approved,[c] but the one whom the Lord recommends.(C)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 10:13 Will keep to the limits: the notion of proper limits is expressed here by two terms with overlapping meanings, metron and kanōn, which are played off against several expressions denoting overreaching or expansion beyond a legitimate sphere.
- 10:17 Boast in the Lord: there is a legitimate boasting, in contrast to the immoderate boasting to which 2 Cor 10:13, 15 allude. God’s work through Paul in the community is the object of his boast (2 Cor 10:13–16; 2 Cor 1:12–14) and constitutes his recommendation (2 Cor 3:1–3). Cf. notes on 2 Cor 1:12–14 and 1 Cor 1:29–31.
- 10:18 Approved: to be approved is to come successfully through the process of testing for authenticity (cf. 2 Cor 13:3–7 and the note on 2 Cor 8:2). Whom the Lord recommends: self-commendation is a premature and unwarranted anticipation of the final judgment, which the Lord alone will pass (cf. 1 Cor 4:3–5). Paul alludes to this judgment throughout 2 Cor 10–13, frequently in final or transitional positions; cf. 2 Cor 11:15; 12:19a; 13:3–7.
2 Corinthians 10:13-18
New International Version
2 Corinthians 10:13-18
New International Version
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,(A) 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(B) with the gospel of Christ.(C) 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits(D) by boasting of work done by others.(E) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,(F) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel(G) in the regions beyond you.(H) 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.”[a](I) 18 For it is not the one who commends himself(J) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(K)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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