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2 Corinthians 10 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

The Spiritual War
Paul’s Warfare and Authority

2Co 10:1

2Co 10:1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2Co 10:2

2Co 10:2But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

2Co 10:3

2Co 10:3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

2Co 10:4

2Co 10:4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

2Co 10:5

2Co 10:5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

2Co 10:6

2Co 10:6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority

2Co 10:7

2Co 10:7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.[fn]

2Co 10:8

2Co 10:8For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us[fn] for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—

2Co 10:9

2Co 10:9lest I seem to terrify you by letters.

2Co 10:10

2Co 10:10“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

2Co 10:11

2Co 10:11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority

2Co 10:12

2Co 10:12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2Co 10:13

2Co 10:13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

2Co 10:14

2Co 10:14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

2Co 10:15

2Co 10:15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

2Co 10:16

2Co 10:16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

2Co 10:17

2Co 10:17But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”[fn]

2Co 10:18

2Co 10:18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
See the NKJV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NKJV Footnotes
NU-Text reads even as we are.
NU-Text omits us.
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New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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For more information on this translation, see the NKJV Preface.

2 Corinthians Chapter 10 — Additional Translations:

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