2 Corinthians 10
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul answers people in Corinth who said he was bold in letters but weak in person. He says his work is a kind of battle, but not fought with the world's weapons. He explains that he will only boast about the work God gave him, which includes bringing the good news to Corinth. He ends by saying the person who is approved is the one the Lord praises, not the one who praises himself.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
1I am Paul, and I am asking you kindly myself. I ask you the way Christ is kind and gentle. People say I am timid when I am with you. They say I am bold when I write from far away.
The KJV says Paul was "base among you." That does not mean bad. It means he seemed plain and humble when he was there in person.
2But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
2I am asking you this. When I come, do not make me be bold with you. Some people think we live by selfish human ways. I am ready to speak firmly to them.
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
3It is true that we live in human bodies. But we do not fight the way the world fights.
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
4The weapons we fight with are not the world's weapons. God makes our weapons strong. They can pull down strong walls.
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
5We tear down false arguments. We tear down proud ideas that stand against knowing God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.
6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
6We are ready to punish every act of disobeying. We will wait until you have fully obeyed.
The KJV word "revenge" here means to punish wrongdoing. It does not mean paying someone back out of anger.
7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
7You are looking at how people seem on the outside. Someone may be sure that he belongs to Christ. He should remember that we belong to Christ just as much.
8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
8The Lord gave us authority, which means the right to lead you. He gave it to build you up, not to tear you down. Even if I boast about it a lot, I will not be ashamed.
9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
9I do not want to seem like I am trying to scare you with my letters.
10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
10Some people say, "His letters are strong and forceful. But in person he is weak, and his speaking is nothing much."
The KJV says his speech was "contemptible." That means his speaking did not impress people, not that it was mean.
11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
11Those people should think about this. What we say in our letters when we are away, we will do when we are there with you.
12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
12Some people praise themselves. We would not dare to put ourselves in their group or compare ourselves with them. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves with each other. That is not wise.
13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
13We will not boast about more than what belongs to us. God gave us a work with a size and a place. That work reaches all the way to you.
14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
14We are not stretching too far. We really did come to you. We were the first to bring you the good news about Christ.
15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
15We do not boast about work that other people did. But we hope your faith will keep growing. Then our work among you can grow much more.
16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
16Then we can tell the good news in places beyond you. We will not boast about work already done in another man's area.
17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
17If anyone wants to boast, he should boast about the Lord.
In the KJV, "glory" used as an action word means to boast or brag.
18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
18The person who praises himself is not the one who is approved. The one the Lord praises is approved.
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