2 Corinthians 10:13

2 Corinthians 10:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But 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.
• New International Version (NIV)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 sphere that also includes you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

Context of 2 Corinthians 10:13

11Let such people realize that what we say by word in letters when we are absent, is the same as what we are in action when present. 12We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools. We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our proper limit, but [will keep] within the limits of our commission (territory, authority) which God has granted to us as a measure, which reaches and includes even you. 14We are not overstepping the limits of our province, as if we did not [legitimately] reach to you, for we were the [very] first to come even as far as you with the good news of Christ. 15We do not go beyond our proper limit, boasting in the work of other men, but we have the hope that as your faith [in Christ and His divine power] continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly expanded [but still within the limits of our commission],

2 Corinthians 10:13 word by word

ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐκ εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα καυχησόμεθα ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τοῦ κανόνος οὗ ἐμέρισεν ἡμῖν ὁ θεὸς μέτρου ἐφικέσθαι ἄχρι καὶ ὑμῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• willκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• ofεἰςeis · towardG1519
• thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• withoutἄμετροςametros · immoderateG280
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the measureμέτρονmetron · measureG3358
• of the ruleκανώνkanōn · ruleG2583
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• hath distributedμερίζωmerizō · to divideG3307
• to reachἐφικνέομαιephikneomai · to reachG2185
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• untoἄχριachri achris · untilG891
• youσύsu · youG4771

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 10:13

• 2 Corinthians 10:15We do not go beyond our proper limit, boasting in the work of other men, but we have the hope that as your faith [in Christ and His divine power] continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly expanded [but still within the limits of our commission],
• Proverbs 25:14Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts falsely of gifts [he does not give].
• 2 Corinthians 10:14We are not overstepping the limits of our province, as if we did not [legitimately] reach to you, for we were the [very] first to come even as far as you with the good news of Christ.
• Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey.
• Romans 12:6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;
• Romans 15:20Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;
• 1 Corinthians 12:11All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.
• Ephesians 4:7Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.
• 1 Peter 4:10Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
• Psalms 19:4Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth, Their words to the end of the world. In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
• Isaiah 28:17I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the mason’s level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies And waters will flood over the secret [hiding] place.
• Romans 10:18But I say, did they not hear? Indeed they have; “Their voice [that of creation bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the [farthest] ends of the world.”

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Things without our measure - There is a great deal of difficulty in this and the three following verses, and there is a great diversity among the MSS.; and which is the true reading can scarcely be determined. Our version is perhaps the plainest that can be made of the text. By the measure mentioned here, it seems as if the apostle meant the commission he received from God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles; a measure or district that extended through…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13But we will not boast of things without our measure - Tyndale renders this:” But we will not rejoice above measure.” There is great obscurity in the language here, arising from its brevity. But the general idea seems to be plain. Paul says that he had not boldness as they had to boast of things wholly beyond his proper rule and his actual attainments and influence: and, especially, that he was not disposed to enter into other people‘s labors; or to boast…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be a good method to keep us humble. The apostle fixes a good rule for his conduct; namely, not to boast of things without his measure, which was the measure God had distributed to him. There is not a more fruitful source of error, than to judge of persons and opinions by our own prejudices. How common is it for persons to judge of their own religious character, by the opinions…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-16Paul respected the limits God set for his missionary work, which included working with the Corinthians. He defends his honesty and authority, stating that when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:1–17), he did so because God called him. Paul was determined not to enter another's area (see Romans 15:20), and he was the first to bring the good news about Jesus to Corinth. His recent opponents visited the church much later (2 Corinthians 11:4), so their claim…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. not boast ... without ... measure--Greek, "to unmeasured bounds." There is no limit to a man's high opinion of himself, so long as he measures himself by himself (2Co 10:13) and his fellows, and does not compare himself with his superiors. It marks the personal character of this Epistle that the word "boast" occurs twenty-nine times in it, and only twenty-six times in all the other Epistles put together. Undeterred by the charge of vanity, he felt he…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 10:13

• Boasting

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Approved
• Beseech
• Captivity
• Measure
• Walk
• Warfare
• Weapon
• Canon of the Old Testament

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings